The Human Rights Watch, in its latest report which is sharply critical of the BJP Government, has said Indian officials should commit themselves to taking steps to prevent further violence and end impunity for campaigns of violence and prosecute both State and individuals responsible for the attacks.

In a 37-page report titled, "Politics By Other Means: Attacks Against Christians in India," the Human Rights Watch says the Indian Government has failed to prevent increasing violence against Christians and is exploiting communal tensions for political ends,

"India's inter-religious violence now extends to Christians, and its underlying causes are the same as those promoting violence against Muslims, Dalits and other marginalised groups in the country—political and economic power struggles linked rhetorically to the creation of a Hindu nation," the report says in the summary.

One of the things stressed is that attacks, against Christians, which have increased significantly since the BIP came to power in March 1998, "point to a disturbing trend of the assertion of Hindu nationalism by Governments in power at the State and Central level. They are a part of a concerted campaign of right wing Hindu organisations collectively known as the Sangh Parivar to promote and exploit communal tensions to stay in power—a movement that is supported at the local level by militant groups who operate with impunity".

"Christians are the new scapegoat in India's political battles," says the author of the report, Ms. Smita Narula, goes on to make the point that without immediate and decisive action by the Government, "communal tensions will continue to be exploited for political and economic ends". What has also been detailed is attacks against the Christians ahead of the parliamentary election and in the months following the victory of the BJP in Gujarat.

"The Hindu organisations most responsible for violence against Christians are the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council), The Bajrang Dal and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (National Volunteer Corps)," The report goes on to quote a former RSS member as saying that these groups cannot be divorced from the ruling BJP. 'There is no difference between the BJP and the RSS. The BJP is the body. The RSS is the soul, and the Bajrang Dal provide the hands for beating".

The Human Rights Watch has not merely listed the violent incidents against Christians in Gujarat and in different parts of India; in many instances, the context has been provided as also an explanation of the attitude of politicians and local authorities. "In a pattern similar to the response to organised violence against lower castes, the tendency is for local officials under pressure to arrest a few members, but not the leaders of the groups involved," reads a section of a press release.

In another instance, the following point is also made: "Though eyewitnesses have identified politicians and local officials as participants in the attacks, the State administration and Hindu nationalist leaders continue to portray the incidents as actions instigated by minority communities. The Chief Minister of Gujarat and the BJP spokesman have even blamed the violence on an "international conspiracy" to defame the political party.

The Human Rights Watch has made a number of recommendations to the Indian Government which include provision of police protection to Christians and other minority communities in violence-affected areas; investigation and prosecution of State officials complicit in attacks on minorities; ending impunity for past campaigns of violence against minorities; implementation of the recommendations made by the National Commission of Minorities; and making public the recommendations of the Wadhwa Commission and in prosecuting all those found responsible for the attacks in Orissa this year.