16, Oct 2015

Pavan Dahat
RAIPUR, October 16, 2015
The Chhattisgarh High Court has said that the “impugned resolution” (Section 129 (G) of the Chhattisgarh Panchayat Raj Act) banning all non-Hindu religious propaganda, prayers and speeches in over 50 villages of Bastar, shall not come in exercise of the fundamental right to preach and propagate of religion and their faith.
Admitting a petition filed by the Chhattisgarh Christian Forum and some other individual, Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivatav ordered that the case to be listed in three weeks. Last year, some village in Bastar district had passed resolutions and had banned the entry of “non-Hindu missionaries” in the villages coming under their purview citing Section 129 (G) of the Chhattisgarh Panchayat Raj Act.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) had played an important role in it.
“The villagers came to us with their problems. The VHP only told them about the law. Now that the gram panchayats have passed the orders, it is the responsibility of the district administration to implement it otherwise we will protest. We will also approach the CM and the Governor to get the ban imposed,” Mr .Suresh Yadav, Bastar district president of the VHP had said on the passing of resolutions. The court order passed earlier this month but its copy was made available only on Wednesday.