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a contextual missiology of the spirit - eTheses Repository ...

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wipe out religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians from India and<br />

<strong>the</strong>re has been severe persecution <strong>of</strong> Christians since <strong>the</strong> early part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 1990s.<br />

In line with this stand <strong>of</strong> Hindutva, <strong>the</strong> VHP leaders made a public statement in<br />

1997 that ‘<strong>the</strong>y will make <strong>the</strong> district <strong>of</strong> Banaswara free <strong>of</strong> Christians by 2000<br />

AD.’ 79 A few weeks after this declaration many Pentecostal pastors were attacked.<br />

Pastor Shan 80 from Shalom ministry was brutally attacked by <strong>the</strong> Hindu militants<br />

in Banaswara. This was followed by a series <strong>of</strong> such assaults on Christian<br />

workers, including local Christian ministers. It is said that within three years after<br />

this threat <strong>the</strong>re were ‘at least 25 violent attacks against Christians’ in <strong>the</strong> state. 81<br />

The Hindutva proponents employ a number <strong>of</strong> popular religious and cultural<br />

symbols as a powerful means to nationalize <strong>the</strong> masses. 82 For example, <strong>the</strong> cow<br />

slaughter ban was such a tool used to exploit <strong>the</strong> sentiments <strong>of</strong> people. What was<br />

done to a Pentecostal pastor in Banaswara district reveals <strong>the</strong> unacceptable nature<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> tactic. Dhiru, 83 a graduate <strong>of</strong> FBC and <strong>the</strong> pastor <strong>of</strong> an FFCI church, was in<br />

prison for more than four months following a false allegation that he had killed a<br />

cow. This incident shows that religious and cultural symbols can be used against<br />

ano<strong>the</strong>r community. The cow slaughter ban was used as a strategy to unite people<br />

and at <strong>the</strong> same time to falsely accuse Christians <strong>of</strong> killing and eating cows.<br />

79<br />

Lalu (pseudonym), interview by author, Banaswara, Rajasthan, 12 May 2006. In his letter to Dr.<br />

Manmohan Singh, <strong>the</strong> Prime Minister <strong>of</strong> India, regarding <strong>the</strong> persecution <strong>of</strong> Christians in<br />

Rajasthan, in 2006, John Dayal, <strong>the</strong> National Secretary <strong>of</strong> All India Christian Council, also<br />

mentioned about this threat <strong>of</strong> VHP leaders. See, http://indianchristians.in /news/ content/<br />

view/300/47/ (accessed 27 November 2008).<br />

80<br />

Pseudonym.<br />

81<br />

This was expressed during <strong>the</strong> pastors meeting in Banaswara, 13 May 2006.<br />

82<br />

Hansen, Saffron Wave, 75.<br />

83<br />

Pseudonym.<br />

196

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