|
Is
the Church a religious or political body? asks RSS
By Kamal
Kant Gouri/Agra
http://www.dailypioneer.com/secon2.asp?cat=\story6&d=fpage
While differentiating between the Church and Indian
Christians, Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghachalak (national
president) K S Sudarshan said here on Sunday that "India is being used for
political purposes by the Western powers which cannot be allowed" and
expressed the hope that Christians of the country would be in the forefront to
foil "this conspiracy".In his speech at the closing session of the
"Rashtriya Suraksha Mahashivir" --- which was also attended by Union
Home Minister L K Advani --- and later at a Press conference, Mr Sudarshan said:
"Today, Christianity is more of politics and less of religion. Therefore,
for the sake of our country, we have to oppose this politics of the
Church."
Condemning the Vatican for asserting in a recent document that "all
religions are not equal," the RSS chief asked whether "people
believing in such views (Catholic missionaries) should be allowed to work
here".
"We do not need conversion. The majority of
Indian Christians subscribe to the Vatican view. When England, Scotland and
Ireland can have their own churches, it is necessary for Indian Christians to
sever their ties with such an intolerant viewpoint and accept that there are
other ways of salvation".
Quoting some of the publications of Christian leaders, Mr Sudarshan said that
the Church is working against the interests of the country, particularly in the
North-East, and this has to be resisted.
He pointed out that he was not the first to
demand the "Indianisation of the Church." Some Church leaders
themselves have been demanding it since as back as 1968.
He referred to one Archbishop Athanasius Joel S Williams "who had talked of
setting up a National Church".
Asked what the RSS means when it talks of "assimilation of the minorities
in the mainstream", Mr Sudarshan replied that he did not expect Muslims and
Christians to adopt the Hindu way of life but wanted them "to respect their
forefathers". He cited the example of Ras Khan, a poet of this area who
wrote in praise of Krishna centuries ago. When a question was put to him on what
will happen to the concept of "Hindu Rastra" as has been propagated by
the RSS, Mr Sudarshan said that India was already a "Hindu Rashtra."
Apart from the issue of minorities, Mr Sudarshan was critical of the economic
policies though he was not directly critical of the NDA government as was done
by his second in command Mohan Bhagwat two days back. Rather RSS leaders are now
trying to tone down his critical views about the working of the NDA government.
Even while delving on the economic policies, Mr Sudarshan refrained from making
any critical comment on the government directly. On the economic policies his
stand was that this system is not good for the nation as it would not be able to
bring any good to the nation. On his economic view point, he said that village
should be the centre of economic policies unlike the city which is at the centre
of the policies now. He seemed to pursue the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi.
|
