The Prime Minister's visit to Dangs did not achieve anything other than providing a justification for the attacks. Some Christian organisations have been trying to convince the Hindutva organisations that the Christian population has in fact decreased and that not a single incident of conversion by coercion or lure has been reported. They cannot, however, be persuaded by such reasoning. For, taking advantage of the BJP-led coalition being in power at the Centre, votaries of Hindutva are eager to spread to the south and expand their social base in the States where they are a significant force. To bring the Adivasis also under the Hindutva fold, a new hate symbol becomes necessary.
Christians come in handy.
They voted for the BJP in the last Dangs Zilla panchayat elections and the party won. In fact, Mr. Jivram Rathod, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Zilla Panchayat, who was elected on BJP ticket, is a Christian. He is, understandably, not in the BJP any more. During the four years of my work among the Adivasis in Dangs from 1989 to 1993 and my frequent visits even now, I observed that though the Dangis availed themselves of educational, health and other services provided by the Church of North India, R.C., FMBP, IEM and Pentecostal, most of them did not accept Christianity. Nor did the Christian organisation expect them to.