VHP defends attacks on Hisar church, Haryana CM says it was built in illegal colony

Chandigarh: Amid a row over vandalisation of an under-construction church in Hisar, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday told the Assembly that the building was reportedly built in an illegal colony and the dispute was the result of an altercation between the priest and those who attacked the place of worship. Meanwhile, Vishwa Hindu Parishad strongly defended the attacks. VHP joint general secretary Surendra Jain was quoted by this report in The Times of India saying whether the Christians would have tolerated construction of a Hanuman temple at the Vatican City. “This is a spontaneous reaction of the local people. There are no Christians living in the village or around it where the church has been attacked. So why was a church being built there? Will the Christians allow us to make a Hanuman temple in the Vatican? Let them allow that, and we will ask them to choose any place in India for a church. We will fund it. The church was for the purpose of conversion. Local people had warned against it. But when it went unheeded, they took whatever action they deemed fit,” Jain was quoted as saying. Jain also added that the gangrape of the nun in Nadia district in West Bengal had nothing to do with communal disharmony and that “sexual exploitation of nuns was a Christian culture, and not of Hindus.” [caption id=“attachment_2157439” align=“alignleft” width=“380” class=" “]  Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar. Image courtesy: Facebook[/caption] Meanwhile, making a statement in the Haryana Assembly, Chief Minister Khattar said that an FIR has been registered on the statement of church priest Subhash Chander, against accused Anil Godara, Dalbir Singh, Raj Kumar, Kuldeep, Satpal, Krishan, Suresh, Dinesh, Jogender, Kulwant, Sudhir, Bijender, Satnarain, Chhotu Ram and others. The complainant has alleged that the accused entered his house and damaged the religious symbol. The accused persons reportedly carried out the attack because an altercation had taken place between the church priest and them on February 8, Khattar told the House. Giving details, Khattar said that the priest had purchased a plot in the name of Believer’s Church India in Kaimri village of Hisar a few years ago and now was constructing a building on it. “This plot is located on a reported illegal Rain Nagar Colony in the area of Kaimri village. Only about 9 to 10 houses have been constructed in that colony till now,” the House was informed. He also said that as per the preliminary inquiry “no approval of building plans and colony has been taken by the concerned coloniser and owners of the houses.” An application was moved to the Deputy Commissioner, Hisar on 7 February alleging that religious conversion was being carried out in the village by Subhash Chander. Besides, another complaint of one Umed Singh was inquired into by the local police of Mangali area and the matter was settled by Subhash and all these parties. The then ASP/SHO of Sadar Hisar Rahul Hooda, has also visited the spot and wrote to the Deputy Commissioner, Hisar. After this compromise the complainant Subhash Chander proceeded to his native place Ambala along with his family. When he came back, he noticed the damage done to the building/reported Church. Police have registered a case against people named and matter is being investigated. “Details regarding the construction, approval of building plan and colonisation are under investigation. Concerned departments are being approached for details. Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu told the House that in the FIR, two persons are those who have “direct connection with a senior Congress leader”. With inputs from PTI