Orissa Christians express hope after ties broken

Christian leaders in Orissa have welcomed the snapping of ties between BJD and the "communal" BJP in Orissa.

"We are happy that BJP is no more part of the government headed by Naveen Patnaik," Cuttack-Bhubaneswar diocese archbishop Raphael Cheenath told PTI.

The Church leader lamented that thousands of people could not leave relief camps due to fear of being attacked by Hindu fanatics who are being protected by the saffron groups.

He expressed hope and said "now there will be no pressure from the government side against taking actions on the miscreants."

A culture of impunity still prevails, he said, adding police had "failed to arrest the criminals despite their names being mentioned in more than one FIRs."

The BJP party which has strong ties with the Sangh Parivar and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is accused of causing communal divide and deplorable human rights violation under the states of its jurisdiction.

The recent Kandhamal violence was part of a series of attacks targeting Christians. The riots had claimed dozens lives besides leaving thousands homeless and damages to houses and churches.

According to our trusted sources, there are still thousands of people in relief camps who are reluctant to return to their homes after recently being threatened of more violence.

"Threat still prevails in the district. More than 4,000 people are still in the refugee camps. They are not able to go home. Only Christians who converted to Hinduism are allowed to stay in their homes," Archbishop Cheenath rued.