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

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against Christians are distributed everywhere to ‘create an atmosphere <strong>of</strong> hatred<br />

and abhorrence towards Christians and Muslims.’ 132 The speeches <strong>of</strong> many Hindu<br />

militant leaders have intensified <strong>the</strong> tension, and caused trouble. Daniel’s study<br />

contains a number <strong>of</strong> examples <strong>of</strong> such provocative talks from many leaders<br />

including Ashok Singhal, <strong>the</strong> International President <strong>of</strong> VHP, K.S. Sudarsan, <strong>the</strong><br />

current leader <strong>of</strong> RSS, and Praveen Togadia, <strong>the</strong> International General Secretary<br />

<strong>of</strong> VHP. 133 Many Pentecostal leaders in Rajasthan believe that <strong>the</strong>se two<br />

approaches, <strong>the</strong> confrontational literature and speeches by Hindu nationalists,<br />

have caused <strong>the</strong> religious tension. All four chief Pentecostal leaders from <strong>the</strong><br />

district <strong>of</strong> Banaswara argue that it was once a peaceful district, but <strong>the</strong> militant<br />

groups have created tension over <strong>the</strong> last ten years or more. 134 As described<br />

earlier, a publicly stated intention to wipe out Christianity from <strong>the</strong> district <strong>of</strong><br />

Banaswara has caused <strong>the</strong> growth <strong>of</strong> religious intolerance and violence since <strong>the</strong><br />

1990s.<br />

Many parts <strong>of</strong> India witnessed an intensified persecution <strong>of</strong> Christians in <strong>the</strong> latter<br />

part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> last millennium. Many sociologists as well as Christian writers<br />

conclude that <strong>the</strong> accelerated phase <strong>of</strong> assault on Christians began in 1998, when<br />

<strong>the</strong> BJP came into power to head <strong>the</strong> Central Government. 135 There has been a<br />

series <strong>of</strong> violent attacks against <strong>the</strong> Christian community in <strong>the</strong> recent past in<br />

Rajasthan which attracted global attention with <strong>the</strong> attack on EMI, Kota in 2006.<br />

132 Stanislaus, ‘Christian Response to Hindutva,’ 199.<br />

133 Daniel, ‘Challenges <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Hindutva,’ 50, 60-61.<br />

134 This is expressed during <strong>the</strong> Leaders Meeting on 08 May 2006.<br />

135 Pradeep Mandav, Communalism in India: A Paradigm Shift to Indian Politics (Delhi, India:<br />

Authors Press, 2000), 191-94; Michael, ‘Hindu Nationalism,’ 475-76; Bengt G. Karlsson,<br />

‘Entering into <strong>the</strong> Christian Dharma: Contemporary “Tribal” Conversion in India,’ Christians and<br />

Missionaries, 133-34.<br />

215

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