The leader even criticised the militant wings of his party for creating fear among peace loving minority communities living in the state and told them to emulate the zeal with which Christian missionaries were taking health care and education to the poorest of poor in the remotest of regions.

The event was the inauguration of a new building of the St Xavier's High School. State Industries Minister Suresh Mehta, considered a moderate in his party, was to inaugurate the building.

On learning that Mehta was to inaugurate the new school building, a group of VHP-Bajrang Dal workers gathered outside the school premises to protest against his involvement in the function. Unmindful of the protestors, Mehta entered the school premises amidst tight security

In his inaugural speech, the minister castigated the Sangh Parivar's two militant outfits, the VHP and the Bajrang Dal, for their anti-Christian propaganda in the region.

Narrating the incident, sources in the Sachivalaya told The Indian Express on Monday that Mehta asked the VHP-Bajrang Dal leaders to desist from violent tactics and emulate the missionary zeal with which the Christian institutions were imparting education and taking health care among the needy and the downtrodden in backward areas.

``This is the only way for you people to win the hearts of weaker sections,'' he said, referring to the Sangh Parivar activists.

Interestingly, a local VHP leader is on the Bhachau St Xavier's High School management board, while a Bajrang Dal leader is president of the school's Vali Mandal (parents' association). While attending the inaugural function of the school, both of them were heard eulogising the Christian missionaries' activities.