THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA, SOUTH INDIA, June 9, 2002: A VHP recruitment drive here got off to a slower-than-hoped start, but the local leaders were still satisfied with the results. Though the drive was aimed at enlisting youth in a program to check conversion in tribal areas, half those enrolling were older. VHP organizing secretary Kummanam Rajasekharan said he was satisfied with the numbers. “It is just the beginning. Teething problems are there. Once the first batch is out more youth can be attracted.” The VHP’s latest plan had evoked protests from various quarters. Communists and social activists had dubbed it as a ploy to ‘Gujaratize’ the hitherto peaceful state. Opposition leader V. S. Achtuthanandan had asked Chief Minister A. K. Antony to ban the drive. The VHP reasoned that a state which produced so many Christian missionaries from its Christian minority should be able to produce Hindu missionaries from the majority community.
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