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Zealots to lie low during Pope's stay

Josy Joseph in New Delhi

Under pressure from senior cabinet members of the Vajpayee government including Home Minister L K Advani, the radical elements of the Sangh Parivar are expected to maintain an uncanny silence during the period Pope John Paul II is in New Delhi. No organised protests are slated for the three days of the Pope's visit.

However, the statement to be issued by the Pope at the conclusion of the Synod of Asian Bishops and other pronouncements of the head of Roman Catholic Church could kick up yet another round of controversy as it is almost certain he will call for evangelisation in Asia.

According to sources in the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, with the end of Goa-Delhi yatra on Thursday in the Capital demanding the Pope's apology for various inquisitions in the past, the right wing protesters are expected to remain silent for the next three days when the Pope is here. "We would not do anything that would embarrass the government," a senior functionary of VHP closely involved in the anti-Pope protests said.

Sources said the silence by no way means that the fringe groups have shunned anti-conversion protests. "In fact they are going to pick up," said the leader. He pointed out that the Pope is expected to make a call for evangelisation while addressing the Bishops' of Asia, and then "we will protest." But a formal and organised protest would not take place before the Pope leaves India.

According to B P Singhal, the Rajya Sabha member of BJP who is the patron of the Sankriti Raksha Manch, the protest "programmes will end by today." He said with the termination of the Goa-Delhi yatra protests have come to an end. "We are happy with the awakening that we were able to do among the people," he said.

The former IPS officer also said that the protests were in "no way against the Pope, but against cruelties being committed in the name of proselytisation." He said the VHP, and even the Manch, welcomes the Pope as "we are not against the Pope."

He pointed out that the actual population of Christians in this country is almost double the figures shown in the census thanks to conversions. He said "crypto Christians" or "affiliate Christians" account for almost as much as 'official' Christians. "These people, most of them from Scheduled Castes, continue to remain Hindus in government records and enjoy all privileges of reservation etc," he said.

The VHP leader said the figures reported by churches are also much higher than the government records and the sole reason for such a large number of "crypto Christians is due to proselytisation."

The Church has already refuted this claim saying that it recognises only those Christians who are "registered in our Baptism registers." Fr Dominic Emmanuel said there are thousands of non-Christians who visit Christian pilgrimage sites, but they are not Christians.

Meanwhile, sources in the Church said the Pope would definitely call for evangelisation in his speech. "The statement would definitely lay stress on inter religious discussions, inculturation of local cultures of Asia, a call for end to arms race, a pro-life statement against abortion etc, and most probably a call for evangelisation," an authoritative Church source said.

The last will definitely heckle right wing groups.

The Pope's Visit

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