VZCZCXRO2446
OO RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHNE #0144/01 0151400
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 151400Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0036
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6722
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2515
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5473
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 5897
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 7488
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHMFISS/HQ USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000144 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/INS, DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KIRF SCUL PTER SNAR SOCI PINS IN
SUBJECT: VHP DEMANDS EXPULSION OF "FOREIGN" CHRISTIAN 
PRIESTS ON NATIONAL SECURITY GROUNDS 
 
REF: A. 08 KOLKATA 002 
     ¶B. 07 KOLKATA 388 
     ¶C. 07 KOLKATA 386 
     ¶D. 07 KOLKATA 385 
 
¶1. (U) Vote bank politics, along with opposition to 
Christian missionary activity in the name of national 
security continue to percolate in the Indian media as 
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leaders met Indian President 
Pratibha Patil on January 8.  The VHP accused the Christian 
community of starting last month's communal violence in 
Orissa (refs A, B and D) and demanded the immediate 
expulsion of foreign priests from the country alleging 
Naxalite ties and other security risks.  (Note: While 
foreign Christian priests continue to serve, primarily in 
India,s northeast, the majority of priests in Orissa are 
Indian.  The VHP statement is clearly intended to reinforce 
the VHP,s stance that Christianity is a &foreign8 import. 
End note.)  The group also called for a ban on missionary 
funding from abroad.  Reportedly, the President listened 
patiently to the VHP,s concerns and agreed to look further 
into the issues. 
 
Religion and Security: From Muslim Terrorists to Naxalite 
Christians 
 
¶2. (U) During the meeting with President Patil, the VHP 
alleged a strong link between Christian missionaries and 
the state,s Naxalites/Maoists insurgents (ref C).  The VHP 
sought an immediate ban on the foreign funding to these 
organizations saying they were a &massive threat8 to the 
country's security.  The Orissa government has ordered a 
probe into the VHP,s allegations.  Orissa,s NGO groups 
generally welcomed the decision for a state-run 
investigation, and are hopeful that credible information 
will emerge to replace the VHP allegations. 
 
The Sangh Parivar in Coalition Politics 
 
¶3. (U) The VHP,s link between Christian groups and 
terrorists is not a new strategy.  VHP has previously 
alleged links between India,s Northeast Christian majority 
and Pakistan,s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) -- a claim 
they restated during the January 8 meeting with President 
Patil.  However, the BJP, a Sangh Parivar partner, has kept 
its distance as it selectively moderates its Hindutva 
stance under the new reality of coalition politics in 
India.  Indeed, the BJP has aligned with non-Congress 
centrist parties when realpolitik considerations demand. 
Narendra Modi, the BJP Hindutva poster child, began his 
Gujarat campaign with a focus on development rather than 
Hindutva and many commentators believe his sweeping victory 
was due more to his good governance and development 
credentials than to his Hindutva stance. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Comment:  True to its mission of protecting the 
Hindu faith, the VHP continuously seeks emotive issues to 
galvanize the Hindu community.  The Ram Setu issue appears 
to have subsided for now and the Ayodhya Ram temple events 
happened long ago.  Correlating Naxalites with Christians 
demonstrates the VHP,s desire to capitalize on national 
security sensitivities.  The Sangh Parivar has previously 
utilized this approach, exemplified by linking Indian 
Muslims with terrorists.  Though there are certainly a few 
Christian Maoist supporters in Orissa, the government of 
Orissa,s move to order an inquiry, even though it is 
supported by the NGO community, appears to be yet another 
attempt to shift blame to the Maoists instead of focusing 
on the real issues of reservations, caste-based oppression 
and discrimination, conversions, and religious intolerance 
in the state.  Mission has met with the National 
Human Rights Commission (septel) and leadership from the 
Orissa state government to discuss Orissa violence and 
express concern.  End Comment. 
 
 
NEW DELHI 00000144  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶5. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate Kolkata. 
MULFORD