Donations Meant for Poor are Funding Christian Persecution

(AsiaNews) – Foreign donations given for widows and orphans are being used by the militant Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) to distribute weapons and hate literature against Christians and Muslims. The group plans to triple its presence in India ’s tribal belt within the next two years. The VHP is the religious wing of the former ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which still currently controls the Central India state governments of Gujurat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh and Jharkhand and will remain in control in all but Jharkhand for the next 4 years. The group works in cooperation with the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, which is notorious for inciting tribal members against Christians and Muslims, and attacking Christian institutions and personnel. According to John Dayal, secretary general of All India Christian Council, a large source of VHP’s funding comes from non-resident Indians in the United Kingdom, United States and other countries, as well as official, government and church organizations who believe the money will go for programs for the welfare of widows and orphan children.