Vajpayee's concern

Sir, - The Prime Minister, Mr. A. B. Vajpayee's ``concern'' at the recent anti-Christian incidents (The Hindu, June 25), can only be termed as ``too little, too late.'' After maintaining a studied silence on the disgraceful incidents for the better part of two years, his call to State governments to forcefully deal with the situation, saying that ``law and order is a State subject'', falls well short of expectations. What if a State government fails to deal with the situation effectively, or more pertinently in this case, does not show the right inclination to deal with it, as has been the case with the governments in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh? One must not forget that the Prime Minister of a country is supposed to provide strong moral leadership to the entire nation, more so when its cherished constitutional values are under threat.

One is happy to note that ``there is no ethnic war being waged between Hindus and Christians'' (Mr. Vajpayee at Rome, The Hindu, June 26). One cannot agree with his view that the incidents ``are only isolated acts and there is no organised campaign against'' Christians. The number of incidents that have happened over the past year or so, the consistency with which they have been occurring and the hate literature being distributed in certain parts of the country, negate this complacency. In fact the Bajrang Dal in a threat issued as recently as just a couple of days back, has vowed to render `holy' Mathura Christian-free within a short period of time. Therefore, the forces ``who wanted to embarrass'' the Vajpayee Government by committing these heinous acts belong to his own ``Parivar''.

Subhashis Roy,

Udyogamandal (Kerala)

Sir, - Ms. Neena Vyas in her article ``Not a happy coincidence'' (The Hindu, June 25) affirms that there are enough hard facts available in black and white to establish that the RSS and its many organisations have created a hate Christian mindset in their cadre. In evidence of the above statement she refers to a leaflet dated May 25, published from Gajipur village in Delhi, the 46th issue of a pamphlet `Mujahana' from somewhere in U.P. and ``another'' leaflet speaking of Dara Singh as a saviour of Hindus. Besides the above she speaks of Golwalkar's books, which were in existence even before we secured our independence.

There are no other hard facts, black or white, in her article. To believe that the pamphlets circulated in some obscure places in Delhi and U.P. caused a hate Christian campaign throughout the country and perpetrated attacks on Christian missionaries is a feat which Ms. Vyas alone can accomplish.

It is relevant to point out here that Prime Minister Vajpayee's well intentioned suggestion for a national debate on conversions was sought to be projected by the community as a grave criminal error and throttled at its birth. Has not the Prime Minister a right to call for a debate on a contentious issue, so that the wrongs can be identified and set right? How else do they wish to solve the problem? By mere acceptance of what they contend?

I am not holding any brief for the RSS or any Hindutva organisation, but feel that all this breast-beating, even before the whole truth is investigated and made known to all, has some other purpose which I am not able to guess. However, what I do wish to say is, unless all communities shed histrionics and come forward with sincere efforts to perceive the truth and make efforts for harmony and peace, charges, counter-charges, denials and distortions will lead us nowhere.

M. K. Nagarajan,

Chennai

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