ASSEMBLY POLL '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS '98
ARCHIVES

Silent rallies protest against attacks on Christians

The Christian community today took out a silent rally in Bhubaneswar, expressing concern over the unprecedented attacks on Christians in many parts of the country, particularly in Orissa.

The rally, organised by the Bhubaneswar Christian Community, marched through the main thoroughfares of the capital city of Orissa and converged at the Raj Bhawan where a ten-member delegation submitted a memorandum addressed to the President of India and the Orissa chief minister.

Stating that Christians do not support conversions forced in any manner, the memorandum demanded an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the killing of missionary Graham Stains at Manoharpur.

It also urged the government to declare a specific action plan to provide safety to the minorities, especially the Christians in the state.

It further demanded that all those individuals and organisations responsible for creating communal disharmony and conflict in any form should be identified and their activities banned.

The memorandum said all places of Christian worship and educational institutions and hospitals run by them should be protected from possible attack or damage.

The silent procession was led by, among others, Archbishop of Lic Church Rev Raphel Cheenath, pastor of the Church of Christ (Union Church) Rev C Niranjan James, and BCC president B K Muduli.

In Pondicherry, volunteers of several political parties, including the Tamil Maanila Congress, took part in a silent procession carrying placards denouncing the burning of the Australian missionary and his two sons in Orissa. A public meeting was also held this evening.

Meanwhile, the Pondicherry Pradesh Congress Committee has condemned the rape of a nun in Mayurbhanj district two days ago.

PPCC president P Shanmugham said attacks on minorities, especially Christians, had increased under the government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party. The Centre had failed to take stern action against the Sangh Parivar, he charged.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report