Hindu militants warn Pope

Press, 15 January 1986, Page 6

Hindu militants warn Pope

NZPA-Reuter New Delhi Hindu militants vowed yesterday to demonstrate during Pope John Paul’s Indian tour and demanded a promise from the Pontiff not to make any conversions during his 10-day visit next month. Archbishop Simon Pimenta, of Bombay, said the church was not worried by criticism of the visit, although two bullet-proof cars were being sent to India for the Pope’s use. “We do not expect any trouble and we are not unduly perturbed by criticism of the Pope’s coming visit made in some quarters,” Archbishop Pimenta said. “The visit will give a boost to the Christian community in this country.” A Hindu militant leader, Vikram Savarkar, president of the Akhila Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha (All India Hindu Congregation), said Hindus would stage protests against the visit, the Press Trust of India news agency

said. Speaking .during the group’s fiftieth annual convention In Hyderabad, Mr Savarkar condemned the Government’s invitation to .the Pope “which means the taxpayer’s money will help the conversions.” The visit by the spiritual leader of the world’s Roman Catholics has generated controversy in a predominantly Hindu land which has been torn, often bloodily, by sectarian conflicts. Militant Hindus fear the Pope will use his visit to encourage conversions to Christianity, while more secular critics have questioned the relevance of a papal tour of a country containing only 10 million Catholics in a population of 750 million. Critics also say the visit could worsen simmering communal tension which at times has set religious groups like Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs against one another throughout India’s 38 years of independence.