ICC Note:
A new book questioning the conviction of seven Christians accused of murdering a Hindu radical leader in 2008 has been released today. The book, by veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar, examines the “Christian conspiracy” theory behind the murder of Swami Laxmanananda which sparked the 2008 anti-Christian riots in Kandhamal. These riots are still widely considered the worst instance of Christian persecution in India’s independent history. Will this new book shed light on the persecution faced by Christians in 2008 and the wrongful conviction of seven Christians?
12/29/2017 India (India Today) – A book questioning the conviction of seven Christians in the sensational murder of Swami Laxmanananda in Odisha, Kandhamal in 2008, was today released by veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar.
The revised edition of Anto Akkaras book Who Killed Laxmanananda? also challenged the “Christian conspiracy” theory behind the killing of VHP member Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati.
“The book brings out the absurdities and discrepancies of the judgement convicting seven persons in the case wherein a document that later turned out to be forged is the only evidence,” senior CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat said at the book launch function here.
In the violence that followed the murder of Swami Laxmanananda, nearly 70-80 people were killed. Thousands of houses were burnt, but not even a single conviction took place in the past nine years, she said.
Swami Laxmanananda was killed at his ashram in Kandhamal on August 23, 2008, which led to a trail of violence against the Christians in the area.
Kuldip Nayar said a “soft kind of Hindutva” was spreading across the country that needed to be challenged by people, especially the younger generation.
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