Vishwa Hindu Parishad's international secretary Pravin Togadia on Tuesday demanded setting up of a special inquiry commission to probe into the role of the churches in conversion and a special court to trial the accused involved in the murder of VHP leader Swami Laxmananada and four of his disciples in Orissa.
Togadia, who arrived in Bhubaneswar to participate in the last rites of slain Swamiji at Chakapada in Kandhmal district, told newspersons that the special inquiry commission should also probe the activities of the foreign missionaries and the funding to the churches.
Condemning the attack on the Swamiji, the VHP leader demanded that the Naveen Patnaik government should set up a special trial court for speedy hearings and the accused in the murder case be hanged if convicted.
He alleged Christian militants were behind the killing of the Swamiji as the churches wanted to eliminate the VHP leader, who had been providing education and healthcare to the poor tribals in the region.
Coming down heavily on the state government for its "complete failure" to protect a 90-year-old sadhu, Togadia wanted to know why adequate protection was not provided to the Swamiji, who had been apprehending threat on his life.
"What was the role of the police when the Swamiji was gunned down mercilessly at his ashram in Jalespata in Kandhmal district on August 23 last," Togadia asked and accused the Naveen Patnaik government of "taking no steps to save the life of the Swamiji at the behest of the Christians and the churches."