Ban Hindu fundamentalist outfits: Christian Council

By Our Special Correspondent

AHMEDABAD, JAN. 6. The All-India Christian Council has, in a letter to the President, Mr. K.R. Narayanan, demanded an immediate ban on Hindu fundamentalist organisations and threatened to launch a nation-wide non-violent agitation if ``Christian-bashing'' continues unabated.

Referring to the abduction and manhandling of the two priests from Jehar in Udaipur district of Rajasthan allegedly by some Bajrang Dal activists on Thursday night, Mr. Samson Christian, national executive member, and other leaders demanded that the Government impose a ban on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (R.S.S.), the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Bajrang Dal and such ``communal and fundamentalist'' organisations.

Mr. Christian, who left for Himmatnagar along with other Christian leaders to call on the two injured priests convalescing in hospital, said the Christians would be forced to launch an agitation if the Government failed to stop Christian-bashing by the Hindu fundamentalists.

Mr. David Mashid was admitted to the hospital with fractured limbs on Friday morning. Mr. Simon Saikia, who was said to be missing, was traced later and admitted there.

Mr. Christian claimed that the two priests from Sabarkantha district were abducted from the residence of the Jehar priest, Mr. Ramesh Solanki, beaten up and left to fend for themselves in hilly tracts of Rajasthan. They were rescued by a Muslim villager of the district and taken to the hospital.

Mr. Christian has named the Sabarkantha district Bajrang Dal president, Mr. Jagdish Taral, and his associates responsible for the crime and demanded their immediate arrest.

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