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Dara Singh to join Shiv Sena

Bibhuti Mishra in Bhubaneshwar

I will join the Shiv Sena as it is the only political party that sticks to its objectives. It implements what it says. It also openly opposes conversions and cow slaughter." That was Dara Singh, prime accused in the Graham Staines murder case, spelling out his political future.

Lodged in the Baripada Circle jail, he told a private television channel that he would not form a new political outfit.

''I have faith in the judiciary and I am sure I will be free soon," said Singh, who asserted that he was not involved in any of the cases the police had filed against him.

"I was opposing Staines' activities on conversion. That is why the police implicated me in his murder," he explained, asserting that though there was a law against conversions and cow slaughter, it remained dormant.

"The Manoharpur incident is minor. If this law is not implemented properly, there will be bigger incidents. Where will be the prestige of the country at that time?" he asked, supporting the Puri Shankaracharya's reconversion bid at Manoharpur. Recently, 70 Christian tribals were reconverted to Hinduism at Manoharpur, where Singh allegedly killed Staines in January 1999.

"These tribals are innocent and poor; that is why missionaries are converting them. That is wrong. What the shankaracharya has done is right."

Singh asserted that he had surrendered to the police "simply because the police had unleashed a reign of terror on innocent villagers. I did not want these people to suffer because of me."

The interview was conducted in jail, in the presence of the DIG of prisons and jail superintendent.

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