As for his conspiracy theory on Amartya Sen's Nobel Prize, Singhal reiterated today that Christian groups could use his ``mass literacy'' prescription as an ``excuse'' for large-scale conversions. That is why the Nobel Prize was given to Sen, he said. But aware that he was speaking at a press conference -- his statements on Sen yesterday were at a VHP meeting -- Singhal toned down his attack. He admired Sen, he said, adding that the Nobel was long overdue.

Singhal, who is here for a nine-day VHP meet, claimed that various militant groups in the North-East and Naxalite outfits in other parts of the country are ``private armies'' of Christian organisations.

While briefing the press on the ``false propaganda on attacks on Christians in Gujarat'' and ``toexpose the violent nature'' of Christian organisations and outfits ``supported'' by them, Singhal said militant outfits operating in the north-eastern States were fed by Christian organisations, ``like the LTTE in Sri Lanka''.

Naxalite organisations in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and now in Gujarat are also private armies of Christians, he alleged. Singhal, however, made a concession for Kerala's Syrian Christians. ``They are patriotic. One of them is in the US and called me up to inform me about a conspiracy hatched by Christian missions to fund militant outfits,'' he said.

Singhal denied that any Hindu organisation was ever involved in any violent act and charged that it was, ``blatant, false propaganda being spread so systematically that it is clear that it is being masterminded by some agency.''

He alleged that Christians were attacking Hindus in Gujarat and ``this is being widely reported in the local press of the State,'' adding, ``What is being propagated elsewhere is completely atvariance with the facts and reality,'' he said.

By way of corroboration, Pravin Togadia, the VHP's joint general secretary in-charge of Gujarat, read out clippings of local newspapers and issued a statement listing cases lodged against Christians for indulging in violence against Hindus in Gujarat.

Singhal said the VHP's style of functioning was to operate through satsang (prayer meetings) and service rather than violence and challenged anyone to name cases registered against the VHP or any related Hindu outfit. ``Yes, there are other organisations with cases against them and these are shielding the Christians in their plan to convert Hindus,'' he said.

Singhal said the bogey of attacks on Christians was being raised to unite various Christian denominations which had deep schisms. ``To put an end to these conflicts, the World Council of Churches had taken up this plan to bring them together by projecting the Hindus as the common threat,'' Singhal alleged.

He said the VHP had given this information tothe government and both the Central and State governments had been given similar information by their agencies.