BJP not responsible for Kandhamal killings: Sangma

June 25, 2012: P. A. Sangma, the presidential candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)in India, has dismissed reports attributing Kandhamal killings to the Hindu nationalist party as nothing but “wild allegations.” “Where is the proof that BJP has done it?... Don't jump to conclusions...Don't make such wild allegations," the tribal Catholic politician from Meghalaya said in an interview to a television channel.

Christian groups and secular activists have blamed Hindu radical groups called the Sangh Parivar for the 2008 anti-Christian violence in Kandhamal district of Odisha that killed more than 90 people and rendered thousands homeless. The BJP is the political arm of the Sangh that wants a Hindu theocratic state in India.

On the Kandhamal killings being blamed on the Sangh outfit, Sangma said, "Forgiveness is the essence of Christianity. We don't go by small incidents here and there... Christianity has a big heart." The former parliament speaker said. "India is a large democracy… a few incidents here and there do happen, will happen. You can't judge it by that."

Sangma said in fact his candidature "will do good to secularism of this nation." He also downplayed the "anti-Christian" stance of these parties in the past.