VHP seeks dialogue with Pope on conversions
New Delhi, October 22 (PTI)
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) today categorically stated it was not against the coming Papal visit but would like to have a dialogue with the Pope on conversions and "systematic disinformation campaign" allegedly being carried out against the Hindus by the Church in India.
At a News conference here, the Sanskritik Raksha Manch (SRM), a front organisation of the VHP, also sought answers from the supreme spiritual leader of Catholics to several questions on salvation, Godhood and fundamentalism, besides demanding an apology for alleged atrocities committed during inquisitions in Goa, Vasai and other places. "We are not against the Pope but 'Churchianity' which seeks to convert the Hindus by inducements, bribes and threats. We welcome the Pope and would like to apprise him of the manner in which his bishops have maligned and villified the Hindus for no fault of theirs," VHP leader B P Singhal told reporters here. He said the series of programmes being organised by the SRM including a "padyatra" from Goa to Delhi, besides seminars, teleconferences and meeting with the diplomatic corps to coincide with the Papal visit were aimed at " only creating awareness, in the Gandhian way of Satyagraha, about the atrocities committed on the Hindus. " Singhal also wondered why the Pope cannot apologise for the inquisitions in Goa and other places when he can beg forgiveness for the atrocities committed in Dominican Republic and beheading of Calvinists in Slovakia.
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