But the Jhabua incident was only one among the few which from time to time hit the national headlines, only to be conveniently brushed under the carpet by the rulers of the party whose men take part in such activity on a regular basis. But the CPI(M) is not one party which is indifferent to the activities and crimes perpetrated on any minority community; on December 4, a ``protest day’’ was observed throughout the nation which highlighted the incidents of atrocities on Christians by the Sangh Parivar with political and administrative protection from the BJP.

The protest was significant because this was the first time that the nation had risen in unision against attacks on a community which has been part of our country’s psyche for centuries. It was in India where Christianity had taken roots shortly after the very religion was founded; why the saffron leaders with their goons are trying to root this community out and single Christians out for persecution could be anybody’s guess. For the Sangh Parivar, there can be only one religion in its version of India: Hinduism, and that too, a rabid version. In the name of Hindutva, the BJP came to power; in the name of this religion, they destroyed the Babri Masjid and in the name of Hindutva, they have continued with a national agenda which can only sell India to the world without any tangible returns.

The BJP has faced some ire in Parliament too because of their conscious decision to persecute the minorities but the sad news for the party was the resignation of as veteran a leader as Mr G.G.Swell who is a former deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha. Mr Swell, in his resignation letter, has said that the way the government seems to be going about handling the law and order situation, leaves much to be desired and that under such circumstances, it has become ``impossible’’ for a leader like him to continue with his membership of the party. Mr Swell, as well know, is a respected leader of the north-east who has never been tainted with corruption.When such a man decides to take precipitative action, then the only reason could be a validation of what the Opposition parties have been saying for all these months. The BJP government is not intent on protecting the rights of the minorities for which it is obligated constitutionally.

Rumblings are being heard in the Hindi heartland too; for example, a top BJP leader, T.H. Rangadh, has told the Union Government, through a memorandum, that the government should take notice of the fact that the minorities are being persecuted and that all evidence points to the fact that this is being done by the carriers of the saffron flag.