Hindu Leader’s Arrest Leads to Charge of Christian Conspiracy

(Compass) – The arrest of one of India ’s most revered Hindu leaders has led to accusations of a Christian conspiracy. Jayendra Saraswati was arrested in mid November and accused of conspiring to murder a temple priest. Hindu nationalist groups immediately launched protests and hunger strikes, saying the arrest was a conspiracy organized by “Christians and Sonia Gandhi” to defame Hinduism — a charge vehemently denied by Christian groups. Prosecutors say Saraswati admitted to arranging the murder in a “moment of weakness,” but devotees believe their leader is innocent. Lal Krishna Advani, chief of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, said he believed Saraswati’s arrest would lead to renewed support for the party.