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Uma Bharati sees conspiracy against India in Christian attacks

Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Uma Bharati has alleged that there was a conspiracy to defame the BJP government at the Centre and to weaken India by ''blowing out of proportion the minor incidents'' involving Christians in Dangs district of Gujarat.

She described the incidents as unfortunate and said an attempt was being made by certain forces to propagate that minorities were not safe in India.

Stating that neither the BJP nor the organisations like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh would favour such incidents, Bharati said the culprits involved in the violence would be brought to book.

Pointing out that India emerged strong after the Pokhran nuclear tests, the Union minister said those who were jealous of this strength were trying to rake up such issues in a bid to tarnish the country's image.

Bharti said the Congress should desist from trying to make political capital out of such incidents by exploiting the sentiments of minorities as such attempts tend to undermine the interests of the nation.

She said efforts should be made to probe such incidents and the media could play a vital role in bringing the truth to light.

The minorities, including Parsis and Jews in the country had no problem when Hindutva was at its peak after the Ayodhya developments in December 1992 when the BJP was in power in many states, she said and alleged that some vested interests were trying to create ''unnecessary panic'' among Christians to achieve their petty goals.

The Union minister said some Opposition parties were feeling ''restless'' after the BJP came to power at the Centre.

UNI

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