Statescan State government issues circular: ?Christians are to be recorded as tribals?

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By Debasis Tripathy in Kendrapara

It is the story of another anti-Hindu policy of Orissa government, which is going to create an explosive situation.

After the failure of deportation drive of 1,552 Hindu refugees in the coastal district of Kendrapara, due to the vechement protest by the public and Hindu organisations, now the government has started a unique move providing some extra illegal benefit to the Christians of the state.

Sources said that Levinus Kindo, IAS, the member of state Board of Revenue, has issued a circular to all the collectors, directors of consolidation and settlement officer of 30 districts last month. In this circular it is stated that during his last tour of the tribal areas, he found that the tribal Christians (tribal converted to Christianity) are being deprived of getting proper benefit as they are being recorded as only Christians in the government records and in their respective Record of Rights (RoR) too. Worried about the incident Kindo orders all the authorities concerned that the converted tribal are not to be recorded as Christians but as ?Santhal Christians?. It is pertinent to mention here that the ?Santhals? are the main race of tribals and government provides a lot of facilities to this race for their development. Those who are being converted from their race to Christianity, do not get all those privileges under the provisions of Hindu law and some judicial decisions like 1986 OLR, page 399, Justice P.C. Mishra (Orissa High Court).

?Such an illegal and anti-national circular of Orissa government will encourage the missionary to undertake more conversions in the tribal areas. Christians will enjoy double privilege as tribal along with their present religion??says Sarat Chandra Sarangi, state general secretary of VHP, Orissa while expressing his reaction on the issue.

On the other hand Hemanta Shrama collector and district magistrate confirms that the administration has received the circular, ?We are bound to abide by this order of the state govt. and will work accordingly? Sharma told to this correspondent.

(The writer can be contacted at debasis987@yahoo.co.in)