Hindutva leader to contest for Kandhamal, 'conversion' to be main poll plank

While the embers of violence incited among Hindu youths instigating division and isolation of Christians is yet to die down in the district, there is fear of more communal riots by the anti-Christian rhetoric and election campaigns of Hindutva leaders.

Famous for his scathing anti-Christian remarks, former IPS officer Asok Sahu has been chosen as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the Lok Sabha seat in Kandhamal.

Sahu, also Orissa unit President of the Hindu Jagaran Samukshya (HJS) told PTI that conversion of Christians would be his main poll plank. To add fuel to fire, Sahu has apparently invited hard-line Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi to campaign.

Terming Kandhamal as a "model area" for Hindutva in the country, Sahu said, the conversion issue would be his top priority during campaigns. In addition, during elections he will also demand the arrest of conspirators behind the killing of Saraswati, he said.

The BJP leader also told PTI that he would ensure that Adivasis got back their land and jobs 'fradulently' taken away by 'vested interests.'

Last year, after Kandhamal district was up in flames, Sahu accused Christian missionaries and alleged that Christians in Baliguda church planned to "eliminate Swamijee who was an insurmountable obstacle against conversion and cow-slaughter in the area."

This however was rejected by the Baticola Parish Church Council, who filed a suit of Rs 50 crore and accused Sahu of "distorting documents and forging signatures" of Christians approving an alleged conspiracy to murder VHP leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati.

Swami Laxmananda and four of his aides in Jalespata ashram was murdered on August 23 by suspected Maoists militants. Despite continuous claims by Maoists on its involvement, Hindu radicals accused Christians and indulged in large scale violence on the peaceful community.