Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday informed the Haryana Assembly that a complaint has been registered against Subhash Masih — the Father of a church that was ‘vandalised’ on Sunday — for assaulting a youth who ran away from a prayer meeting where Hindu gods were allegedly insulted.
Mr. Khattar told the House that Fr. Subhash Masih had bought a 250 square yard plot in Ram Nagar colony, which had been cut on a seven acre plot.
He said Fr. Subhash had constructed two rooms and a hall but the did not have any doors or windows. "On February 8 when he was teaching Bible to 10-12 construction workers some villagers objected to it. The matter was resolved by the Sarpanch. Then Fr. Subhash went away on March 6. When he returned on March 13 he found the place vandalised and lodged a police complaint against 14 people."
The Chief Minister said residents of the village also met the Deputy Commissioner on Monday and complained against Fr. Subhash. "One youth, Umed Singh has also complained that Fr. Subhash took him to his church and conducted a prayer, which he could not understand. Umed said words were also spoken against his gods and when he objected (to it), he was beaten up. Now a report has been registered on his complaint.”
Mr. Khattar said it has also been alleged that Fr. Subhash would allure young boys with the promise of getting them married off.
The Chief Minister said everyone has a right to practice their religion and strict action will be taken to maintain peace. But he qualified the remark saying “if there is a wrong intention then it too should be checked.”
RSS Agenda?
With some Congress leaders terming it an “RSS agenda,” Finance Minister Captain Abhimanyu retorted that the names of two persons close to a senior Congress leader figured among the accused.
Indian National Lok Dal legislator from Hisar, Ranbir Gangwa, said Fr. Subhash had put up a cross on his house and some local leaders with an eye on the upcoming panchayat elections had objected to it. He said Bajrang Dal leaders from Hisar had also gone to the village and objected to the move.
Mr. Gangwa claimed that people in the village insisted that they were not behind the desecration of the church.
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