SURAT, July 26: The alleged harassment and intimidation by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal on minorities came in for sharp criticism at a sammelan of tribals held at Zhankhvav village in Mongrol taluka on Saturday,Leader of the opposition in the State Assembly, Amarshingh Chaudhary, who attended the meeting, assured the gathering that he would take up the issue of attacks on Christian missionaries working in the tribal regions of South Gujarat.Held amidst tight police bandobust, a memorandum was also submitted to Chaudhary, criticising the VHP and the Dal for raking up communal passions in the village last weekend. An appeal was also made to ensure safety of Christian minorities.
Attended by tribal leaders and MLA's including Mangrol MLA Raman K Chaudhary, Dediyapada MLA Amarsingh Vasava, Jhagadia MLA Chhotu Vasava, district Congress president Yusuf Sawa and others, tribals -- among whom Christian missionaries have been working since decades -- told the leaders that false propaganda was being spread over the activities of the missionaries and demanded a high-level inquiry into the incidents at Zankhvav.
Chaudhary said that selective information was being provided by the government in the assembly and that is why he had decided to visit the village to get first-hand information. Assuring his party's support to Christian missionaries' activities, the former chief minister stated that adivasis should unite and prevent anti-social elements from letting loose terror in the form of communal frenzy.
He said he had already sent a report on the issue to AICC president Sonia Gandhi.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
