Indian Muslim Council-USA (IMC-USA) denounced in the strongest terms, the ongoing massacre of Christians and the killing of the Hindutva leader in Orissa.
“This is nothing but a repeat of the 2002 Gujarat carnage, only this time the target is the Christian minority,” said IMC-USA President Mr. Rasheed Ahmed, commenting on the violence. “If the state government, which is in alliance with the BJP, cannot maintain law and order and save the lives and property of its citizens, the Central government should impose president’s rule and send the armed forces to stop the pogroms.” he further added.
The latest violence against the Christians started after the killing of VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four others by suspected Maoists. Rasheed Ahmed, deplored the incident saying: “Killing is a heinous crime irrespective of who the victim or perpetrator is”. Laxmanananda Saraswati was at the forefront of anti-Christian campaigns and was reported to be behind the widespread destruction of properties during the ‘Black Christmas’ in 2007.
Orchestrated pogroms against religious minorities by Hindu nationalist groups have become a regular feature of Indian politics in recent years. Often these pogroms occur in BJP ruled states which extend police protection and impunity to the rampaging Hindutva activists perpetrating the violence.