Persecution of Christians in India

Updated by the Compass

Chidambaram assures Orissa Christians Safe Christmas

India Leader Assures Christians of Safe Christmas

By Dibin Samuel

Christian Today Reporter

Sat, Dec. 13 2008 09:05 AM EST

Unlike 2007, Christians in Orissa, India, might be fortunate to celebrate Christmas this year, after Home Minister P. Chidambaram assured them that the Center would ensure their safety.
Chidambaram assured this on Wednesday when a delegation led by Delhi Archbishop Vincent M. Concessao met him to inform him about Christians fearing attacks during Christmas.

"We apprised the Home Minister of our very strong apprehension that the celebrations will be targeted by unruly elements as it happened last time," Babu Joseph, spokesperson for Catholic Bishop Conference of India (CBCI), told Press Trust of India.

Concerns were raised after Hindu extremists called for a statewide bandh, a form of protest or strike that shuts down the entire society, on Dec. 25, which could trigger more attacks against the Christian community.

The Home Minister, according to Joseph, has detailed and ordered the Orissa government to ensure safety to the Christian community.  more

D N Murthy general secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Bajrangdal violence

The Rediff Interview/D N Murthy, VHP general secretary'Calling Bajrang Dal's action as terrorism is utter nonsense'

You call the incidents in Karnataka as violence. A few glass panes were broken and you call that terrorism. In Karnataka not a single person was injured. What are these people talking about? It is ridiculous. Glass panes of cinema theatres are broken due to certain disputes. Can you call this terrorism? Did the Union government react in this manner? The people are just protesting against those indulging in forcible conversion. That is all.
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Bajrang Dal and terrorism?  Whoever says this has no common sense. There are so many terror attacks in the country in which so many innocent lives have been lost. The security agencies are unable to nab the real culprits who always manage to give the slip. As I said earlier, in Karnataka not a single person was injured and you call the Bajrang Dal's actions as terrorism. It is utter nonsense.

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Yes, the loyalties do shift. But I would also like to add that everyone has a right to practice a religion. But nobody has the right to convert. If a conversion is based on an ideological acceptance of a new way of life, it is fine. But conversions in large numbers or mass conversions are deplorable. I can understand when an educated man converts. He can think and decide for himself what each religion has to offer. Why are missionaries targeting slum-dwellers and tribals? What can these people understand 


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Terror continues in Kandhamal

The Telegraph, Kolkatta September 15, 2008 Clashes on in Kandhamal OUR CORRESPONDENT A sand sculpture on the riots by Sudarshan Pattnaik. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee Bhubaneswar, Sept. 14: Tension brewed in parts of strife-torn Kandhamal today as nine houses were torched at Toposi and Dibadi while reports of arson trickled in from some places in Raikia. Five platoons of CRPF, Rapid Action Force and Orissa State Armed Police were deployed in those areas and in other vulnerable pockets to bring the situation under control. Trouble started in Kandhamal last evening itself after two civilians died in firing at Tumudibandha, where Swami Laxmananda Saraswati was gunned down on August 23, and a CRPF jawan was critically injured. The problem began when CRPF jawans tried to intercept a mob of 500 men, mostly Kandh tribals, on their way to Kurtamgarh gram panchayat to “discuss matters” with the village headman (sarpanch), Sisir Mallik. The headman belonging to the Pana community later converted to Christianity and some persons in the mob held grudges against the sarpanch. Facing the resistance, the mob launched an attack on the CRPF team with lathis, stones and arms. “Rioters continued to attack the jawans till the latter opened fire,” said DIG (southern range) R.P. Koche. Two protesters died in the CRPF firing, leaving two protesters dead. “The bodies are yet to be identified,” the officer confirmed. A jawan sustained a bullet injury in his neck and was rushed to the sub-divisional hospital at Baliguda. His condition is stated to be critical and has been shifted to MKCG Hospital today, said a senior officer. On Friday, too, Tumudibandha witnessed clashes. A prayer house and at least a dozen houses were set ablaze, leading to tension in the area and in the neighbouring G. Udaygiri block. Since then the security has been beefed up in the area. Several villagers left their homes for safer areas even as at least three platoons of CRPF and Orissa State Armed Police were deployed at Tumudibandha today. Meanwhile, curfew imposed on Jaipur since August 30 was lifted today. “We have lifted the curfew, as no fresh incidents of violence was reported from the area. The situation is becoming normal there,” said DIG (south-western range) Sanjeev Panda. Link