Hitherto docile and silent sufferers Hindu religious leaders seem to have started becoming aggressive. Especially in the states where the conversion activities of Christian missionaries are on the rise. After the recent murder of Hindu religious leader Swami Lakshmananda, the government sat silent waiting for people to forget all about the incident and let the missionaries go on with their work. But this is not to be, at least not with the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha (HDAS) actively pressurising the Orissa state government to step up the probe.
In a way I am glad to see this development because things can’t be settled through fighting and rioting. Indians in general and Hindus in particular have been known to react emotionally without thinking of the long term consequences. This kind of reactions have actually hindered the progress of Hindus in the past. This time the HDAS, which comprises of heads of over 125 highly revered and ancient mathas and peethas has decided to take a strong step and pressurise the government to find the culprits and take action.
According to newsreports convenor of the Acharya Sabha, Swami Dayananda Saraswati wrote a strong letter to the chief minister of Orissa informing that Hindus belonging not just to Kandhamal but also from across Orissa believe that the murder of the Swami and his associates was the handiwork of some powerful local vested interests who have not been brought to book yet.
“‘There is also a strong belief that the criminals have been identified by the people locally but are roaming freely because law and order machinery is not keen to offend the powerful Christian minority leadership, by arresting the murderers,’’ he stated in the letter.
I hope the government takes action quickly.
