Christians, Muslims cautious over Hindu radical’s confession
Christian and Muslim leaders in Gujarat seem wary about a Hindu radical’s reported change of heart.
Aseemanand, who had masterminded anti-Christian violence in the tribal-dominated Dangs district in late 1990s, recently confessed before a magistrate that he was responsible for blasts in several parts of India.
Police had arrested the septuagenarian Hindu leader a few months ago in connection with explosions in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, Ajmer in Rajasthan and Samjhauta Express train.
After the blasts, the security agencies had arrested Muslim youths.
Aseemanand (limitless bliss) repeated his confession to his family and said the Muslims were innocent. He was reportedly moved after seeing Abdul Kaleem, a Muslim youth in a Hyderabad jail.
Church people working among tribal people in tribal-dominated districts in southern Gujarat sounded skeptical.
“It is good if Aseemanand’s confessions are really genuine. We don’t know under what circumstances he confessed,” Father C. M. Raphael, who works in the Dangs district, told ucanews.com Jan. 23.
Jesuit Father Stanny Jabamalai, another missioner, said he is “a bit wary” of Aseemanand’s “sudden” change of heart. The Hindu radical had spread terror among tribal people by “openly violating” the law, he added.
“Conversion comes from God. But there appears to be some hidden agenda,” he told ucanews.com.
Hindu radicals often indulge in double standards and the confession could be to garner public sympathy and reduction in punishment, he added.
His confrere Father Xavier Manjooran too believes Hindu radical groups “say something and do exactly the opposite.”
Hanif Lakdwawala, a Muslim activist, says he would wait to see if Aseemanand would change his stand during trial.
J. S. Badukwala, another Muslim and president of Gujarat unit of the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties, welcomed the “confession of guilt although he had committed big crimes in the past.”
By ucanews.com reporter, Ahmedabad
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