People's Democracy

ATTACK ON JHABUA CHURCH BY RSS OUTFITS

CPI(M) Charges State With Active Connivance

AFTER a one week probe into the Jhabua violence, the Madhya Pradesh state unit of the CPI(M) has castigated the BJP and storm troopers of the VHP, Bajrang Dal, Seva Bharati and Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad for their attacks on religious minorities, with the full backing  and active connivance of the BJP state government. In the CPI(M)’s opinion, these attacks were without any provocation and well planned in advance. It was a case of uncontrolled loot, arson, burning of houses, rape and terror --- unleashed in all its brutality. The party has stressed on the need of broadest unity to fight the fascist attack.

The CPI(M) team, led by former MLA Premlal Mishra, included freedom fighter Bansidhar Azad, Jaganath Bharati, Kailash Limbodia (CITU) and Srinivas Chitale.

The team was of the firm view that the attack on the 100 years old church on January 16, 2004, in village Aamkhut was without any reason and carried out in a planned manner. On the same day, in the name of a religious meeting, some women were collected, some of whom had come from Gujarat. Thus a group of around 150 persons entered the church premises and began the attack. The ongoing school exams had to be cancelled as the crowd torn the answer books. Even religious pictures and grants were not spared in the vicinity.

The CPI(M) team further found that the police remained silent spectators. Provocative slogans were shouted the presence of the chief minister Uma Bharti. Bows and arrows, swords and daggers were used for attacking the ordinary people while the crowd was on return after having attacked the church.

The team also came to know that the BJP MLA of the area was an open conniver. Even now, there is reign of terror and uneasiness in the area, with schools also remaining closed. The CPI(M) state secretary Bahadur Singh Dhakar has demanded that the National Human Rights Commission and a retired judge must probe the incident and ensure that there is no cover up by the state. He has also demanded action against the guilty. (INN)