India tells Vatican 'capable of handling Orissa violence'

In response to Pope and Vatican's concern over the violence in Orissa, India yesterday said, it strongly condemned the incident and as a 'flourishing democracy' it was totally capable of dealing with the situation and restoring 'law and order' in the state.

A representative of the Holy See, ArchBishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, who reached New Delhi last week, met with Indian officials urging them immediate protection to the minority Christians.

The Italian foreign ministry on Monday had also called the Indian ambassador in Rome Arif S. Khan and expressed its sorrow over the escalating violence.

In a statement issued, the Vatican expressed concern over the attacks on Christians and others as a 'sin against God and humanity.'

"In the course of their meeting Ambassador Massolo expressed the Italian government's deep concern and sensitivity regarding the recurrent episodes of inter–religious violence in the Indian state of Orissa resulting in numerous Christian, among other, victims within the context of the critical situation developing in that region," a statement by the Italian foreign ministry in its website Tuesday said.

It added, "The Secretary General was hopeful that the firm measures already adopted by the Indian authorities – fully illustrated by Ambassador Khan – are successful in quelling the violence and reinstating dialogue and mutual respect between the various segments of Indian society."

According to sources, the decision to meet the Indian ambassador was taken at a cabinet meeting presided by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, last week.

The Italian government also made it clear that it would ask France, to raise the issue of attacks on Christians in India at the forthcoming summit between the two sides in Marseilles.

The Vatican statement has condemned the death of Hindu religious leader Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati and demanded an inquiry into the killing that sparked a communal violence against Christians in the state.

While appreciating 'the well–established practices of peaceful co–existence that have marked India's modern democracy' the statement continued, 'the nations founded on the values of pluralism and respect for fundamental human rights must protect the religious freedom.'