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Vajpayee promises to rein in Singhal

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Wednesday hinted broadly that Vishwa Hindu Parishad executive president Ashok Singhal will be brought under control shortly.

Deprecating Singhal's recent utterances attacking Christians, Vajpayee said VHP leaders ''cannot be allowed to continue like this.''

The prime minister told the media accompanying him to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands that the atmosphere all over is ''surcharged with violence. Even the smallest provocation is enough to flare it up.''

In a secular state like India all citizens have to be protected irrespective of caste, religion and region, he added.

Asked if he saw any design behind the recent attacks, he replied in the negative.

Vajpayee also criticised the VHP for what it said about Mother Teresa and Professor Amartya Sen. ''It is most unfortunate'' that Singhal should see a design of the Christian lobby behind these two people getting the Nobel prize.

According to him, the main cause of the growing tension among tribals was land dispute. In this context, he gave the example of tribals breaking into a jail and killing two undertrials in Udaigiri area of Gajapati district in south Orissa recently. They later set fire to some houses of Christian families.

''That was a very serious incident,'' he said.

Vajpayee said there can be difference of opinion on the question of conversion of Hindu tribals to Christianity -- but this is not the way to express one's feelings.

The Constituent Assembly had debated at length whether conversions will form part of the right to practice a religion but could not come to any conclusion, he pointed out.

The prime minister said the home ministry has been asked to probe if the VHP had any hand in the attacks.

The resentment among the tribals in Gujarat was growing; at some places it was even taking the shape of tribals versus Christians, he added.

Leaders of public opinion must ensure that small incidents do not turn serious, he said.

Referring to Orissa's Ramgiri Udayagiri, which witnessed tribal unrest against Christians, Vajpayee said it was a warning to the whole nation.

He said India being a secular state, all citizens, irrespective of their caste, creed and politics would be provided security.

On Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Muthuvel Karunanidhi's allegation that he was shielding All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham leader J Jayalalitha, the prime minister quipped, "He said I am tolerating her!"

Charged with neglecting Orissa, the prime minister said it was not true.

UNI

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