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Sangh Parivar targets Christian convention centre

Even as the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in Delhi comes under Opposition fire on the Ayodhya issue, the Sangh Parivar in Kerala has begun targetting the Christian community.

Under fire from the saffron brigade is a century-old Christian convention centre in central Travancore. Workers of the BJP, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh have, thus, launched a campaign against the centre, located at Maramon, in Pathanamthitta district.

At the heart of the controversy is a sub-surface dam built across the Pampa river, with a view to protecting the centre, which hosts Asia's biggest annual spiritual convention.

Under the aegis of the newly-formed Pampa Vimochana Samiti, the saffron brigade is now campaigning to demolish the dam. The argument: the dam obstructs free flow of water to the Aranmula Sri Parthasarthy temple, situated on the riverbed.

Further, say the Sangh Parivar activists, the dam poses a major threat to the annual snake-boat festival held in the Pampa river as part of the Aranmula temple festival.

The Samiti has given an ultimatum to the state government, demanding the demolition of the dam before June 15 failing which it has threatened a kar seva to attain that objective.

As part of a bid to involve Hindu sadhus and sants in their agitation, the Samiti further plans a march by sadhus to the dam site, to "create awareness" about the alleged threat the dam poses to the temple.

Official circles express surprise over the development, pointing out that the government has already reduced the height of the dam, on the advice of an expert committee, to ensure uninterrupted flow of water.

Till last year, the BJP and allied organisations had expressed satisfaction with this step. However, they have now changed tack, and launched a virulent anti-dam campaign which reached a flashpoint last week when parts of the dam were found demolished.

Though the BJP claims its campaign is aimed at ensuring the smooth conduct of the temple festivals, Christian organisations and non-BJP parties have questioned the motives underlying the agitation. The belief in these circles is that this is part of a bid by the BJP to swell its support base in the Travancore region.

The party had played its cards in similar fashion on the Nilakkal issue in 1982, and had in fact gained some political dividend from it in subsequent elections. Thus, the BJP's good showing in the Mavelikkara Lok Sabha constituency is being attributed to the anti-Christian campaign of 1982.

Tension around the convention centre meanwhile has mounted with Christian organisations and anti-BJP parties joining issue with the Sangh Parivar. The Democratic Youth Federation of India, youth wing of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist, has already taken out a rally opposing the Samiti's demand.

The Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association, which conducts the annual convention at Maramon, has meanwhile submitted a memorandum to the government demanding its immediate intervention to safeguard the centre.

By way of background, the dam was constructed by the irrigation department at the Mar Thoma association's request, to save the centre from the threat posed by indiscriminate sand-mining in the river. The annual convention is held in the sand-bed during the January-February period, when the river is practically dry.

The state government has intensified police pickets in the area, and clearly signalled its intention to protect the convention centre.

Church organisations meanwhile have exhorted the faithful to exercise restraint, and to enable the government to solve the issue amicably.

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