Pratap Sarangi: From VHP Leadership to Controversial Figure in Graham Staines' Murder
The BJP MP's Connection to One of India's Most Notorious Hate Crimes
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Pratap Sarangi, BJP MP, was once the VHP leader in Odisha during the 1999 Graham Staines murder.
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Staines, an Australian missionary, and his two sons were burnt alive, an act linked to VHP activists.
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Despite denials, Sarangi's name surfaced in relation to this horrific crime.
Pratap Sarangi, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament from Odisha, has recently been in the news for receiving minor injuries, leading to an outcry from BJP and various news channels. However, beneath this coverage lies a more controversial history that links Sarangi to one of India's darkest moments.
In 1999, the brutal murder of Australian Christian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons, Philip and Timothy, shocked the world. The three were burnt alive while sleeping in their station wagon in Manoharpur, Keonjhar district of Odisha. Dara Singh, a known VHP activist, was convicted for orchestrating this heinous act. At the time, Pratap Sarangi was the state president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Odisha.
Following the incident, Sarangi publicly denied any acquaintance with Dara Singh or his association with the VHP, stating, "I do not know Dara Singh, and he is not connected with the VHP". However, his role as a prominent VHP leader during the time of the crime drew him into the spotlight, with many questioning his involvement or at least his responsibility as a leader of an organization linked to the crime.
The international community, including the Vatican, reacted strongly to this act of violence. Pope John Paul II visited India shortly after to express solidarity with the Christian community. The then Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, faced sharp criticism for the incident, with many attributing it to a rise in communal tensions.
The chilling reality of that night, where Staines and his sons were engulfed by flames in their confined space, is a stark contrast to the current media coverage of Sarangi's minor injury. The pain and terror of being burnt alive cannot be compared to any physical injury, raising questions about the disproportionate attention given to political figures over true victims of unspeakable violence.
Pratap Sarangi's involvement in this case has left a long-lasting mark on his public persona, with critics often revisiting this chapter when discussing his political career. His journey from a VHP leader to a BJP MP encapsulates the complex interplay of religion, politics, and violence in India, reflecting how past actions continue to haunt public figures in their political lives.