It concludes: “Bajrang Dal is a patriotic organisation. It came into limelight during the Ayodhya movement. It campaigned for cultural nationalism. It never challenged the Indian Constitution or law of the land. Nobody accused it of secret, underground activity or terrorism. Yes, there is need for an aggressive, nationalist effort to confront the enemies of the nation. The Bajrang Dal is in the forefront at the time of national calamities, in blast sites and flood-affected areas serving the victims irrespective of their religion or belief.”

Christian violence

A news item headlined “Newlife Christian Prayer meets abuse Hindus,” says: “When ex-prime minister and JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda and Mallikarjuna Kharge, a senior Congress leader, tried to take political advantage of the situation by visiting the damaged prayer halls (in Karnataka), Hindus stopped them to show their damaged house and other belongings. This clearly shows that large number of Hindus are also affected in the attack by Christians... Though communal violence is common in Mangalore, the recent Christian violence against Hindus is something new.”

It then adds: “Newlife, one of the 20 missionary centres, belongs to Karnataka Missions Network and started missionary activities six years ago in coastal areas of Dakshin Kannada District. It is actively propagating Christianity in Karnataka, other states and also in few foreign countries. But over the period of years locals felt that Newlife was indulging in conversions by alluring the gullible people by offering money, job, medical aid, vehicle etc. A local person said that Newlife started giving instructions to newly converted people to abandon wearing tilak on forehead, not to visit and offer prayers at the Hindu temples, replacing the photos and idols of Hindu Gods and Goddesses with Cross etc. This was the beginning for creating disturbance in the peace-loving society.”

... contd.