Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Communal violence

After Jammu and Kashmir, communalism has raised its ugly head in Orissa thanks to communal outfits such as the VHP and the Bajrang Dal, and the main Opposition party, BJP, which seems to have learnt nothing from the past. There is an urgent need to curb the spread of communal elements because they are a blot on our secular, multicultural and pluralistic image. They are no less dangerous than terrorist outfits like SIMI.

Dheeraj Pandey,

Ghaziabad

Johnson Minz,

Mumbai

The VHP and the Bajrang Dal have used Swami Lakshmanananda’s murder by Maoists as an excuse to attack Christians in Orissa. It looked as if the assailants were acting on direct orders to attack them alone. India is a secular democratic republic. Let us do our best to remember this and respect all religions and communities. The purpose of religion is to maintain peace and social harmony. It is not to be used as a political tool to advocate violence.

Varun C. Fernando,

Hyderabad

The communal violence perpetrated by the VHP in Orissa under the pretext of religious conversion of tribals is highly reprehensible. Could it have taken place without the pussyfooted and soft approach of the State government towards the VHP? It is such callous attitude that creates victimhood tendencies among those cornered by partisan law-enforcers. The unjust tendency needs immediate redress.

Kasim Sait,

Chennai

The saffron brigade, which unleashed the communal pogrom of Gujarat in 2002, continues to assault the minorities in every way possible whenever it finds the slightest pretext. It is very unfortunate that the communal forces continue to thrive and find support in secular India.

Mohamed Rafiq,

Tiruchi

The killing of Swami Lakshmanananda deserves to be condemned. But why should innocent Christians be killed and their properties destroyed in the name of retribution? Such acts should not be justified as a reaction to the VHP leader’s murder.

S. Xavier,

Tiruchi

Joby J. Kallarackal,

Thane

Shibin Joseph,

Kozhikode

Why are we unable to see the heinous crimes committed by the VHP and the Bajrang Dal all over the country? How can their actions be described as communal frenzy or politically motivated? They are denying the minorities the right to life and liberty and sabotaging the Constitution. It is not enough to condemn their actions. A ban should be imposed on the activities of these organisations.

Shahnawaz ul Rahman,

Udham Singh Nagar

This is not to condone the burning of a 20-year-old woman and other acts of violence in Orissa. In fact, the perpetrators of such acts deserve summary punishment. The violence has its origin in the killing of Swami Lakshmanananda, who spearheaded a movement against religious conversion. Let the sensitivities of Hindus be respected by others. Let the inducements for conversions, if any, stop. And let the English media desist from finding fault with one side.

N. Gopu,

Ottapalam

Bala Subramanian,

St. Louis, Missouri What triggered the violence was the reaction of the local population to the killing of the VHP leader. Alleged attempts to change the tribal culture through religious conversions are another reason for the resentment of locals to Christian missionaries. Therefore, the mere condemnation of the VHP, without going into the reasons for the violence, will not help to restore normality in the State.

A. Gajanana,

Bangalore

This refers to the decision of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India to close all Catholic educational institutions across the country on Friday to protest the attacks against Christians in Orissa. What message did it send to students studying in the Catholic institutions? Has not the CBCI forced the young minds to think on communal lines? What if a student wonders why no one protested against the violence in Jammu and Kashmir? Tomorrow, one of the numerous Hindu organisations may ask all the Hindu institutions to close down on similar grounds. If one is concerned about violence, he or she should protest against all kinds of violence.

Girish Prahalad,

Bangalore

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