Commonwealth apprised of anti–Christian violence

Several civil society groups have approached the Commonwealth on the issue of anti–Christian violence in Orissa and Karnataka states in the country.

Commonwealth Secretary General Kamlesh Sharma told PTI “we keep getting communications from various parties on internal developments in member states. The practice is that we pass it on to the member states. This is what we have done in this (case) as well."

Apparently the concerns have been passed on to India as per the report of Commonwealth Commission on 'Respect and Understanding’ that urges greater tolerance, respect and understanding between different races, religion, culture and belief.

The Commonwealth of Nations, usually known as the Commonwealth, is a voluntary association of 53 independent sovereign states, most of which are former British colonies, or dependencies of these colonies.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom and Australia have approached Indian National Commission for Minorities expressing concern over the violence on Christians.

Mohammad Shafi Qureshi, Chairman of the Commission said UK minister of state for foreign affairs Lord Malloch Brown and acting high commissioner of Australia in India David Holly called on him to know as to why Christians and their places of worship were being targeted when, as per the government records, no forcible conversion were taking place.”

Dozens of Christians were killed and hundreds of their houses and worship places were burnt by Hindu radicals recently in Orissa and Karnataka following the murder of a prominent VHP leader in Kandhamal. Although Maoists claimed responsibility, the VHP, Bajrang Dal and its organizations accused Christians for the slaying.