Over 15,000 demonstrate against anti–Christian violence

Thousands of people joined the Peace and Solidarity rally on 139th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Oct 2, to protest the violence on Christians in India.

Close to 15,000, including Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhist, politicians and civil societies joined the march from Jantar Mantar to Rajghat, with the culmination of a seven–day sit–in organised by Christians of Delhi and NCR.

Addressing at the peace rally, Swami Agnivesh said, “The very killers of Mahatma Gandhi, are the same killers of Christians in Orissa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and other parts of the country.” “The killer – the Hindutva fascists does represent the peace loving Hindu societies, rather they are damaging the Sanatam Dharma of Hinduism.”

Union Minister for Indian Railways and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad also addressed the rally at Jantar Mantar and promised he would meet the prime minister and discuss the matter urgently.

“I will personally meet Prime Minister and discuss the matter urgently.” “I will take up the anti–Christian violence in Parliament and debate the hatred of Hindutva forces,” he said.

Apart from Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Sheila Dixit, other signitories who participated in the rally includes, Itaram Yedhury of CPI (M), Union Minister of Labor Oscar Fernandez, Activist Teesta Setalvad, Dr. Udit Raj, President of SC/ST Federation, Dr. Valson Thampu – Principal of St. Stephen, Shabnam Hashmi from ANHAD, and others from Sikh, Muslim and Hindu communities.

John Dayal, General Secretary of the All India Christians Council, said: “Thousands of people have been rendered homeless and driven away from their villages. We want the central Government to interfere.”

“People have lost faith in the state government,” he added.

According to Dayal, at least 60 children have died and women being gangraped in the district. 50,000 people rendered homeless and close to 4,300 houses been destroyed.

The communal violence in Orissa was sparked after the murder of VHP leader Laxmananda Saraswati, who was killed with four other aides on August 23. Although the Maoists claimed responsibility, the Hindu VHP and RSS have accused Christians for orchestrating the murder.

The VHP and Bajrang Dal in Orissa has demanded that "every returning villagers will have to reconvert to Hinduism" to avoid future violence.

Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore meanwhile has demanded a ban on all radical Hindu groups that attack churches and Christians in the name of conversion.

The demand was made at a press conference where he reiterated the Church is against forcible conversions and if found any, legal action can be taken on them.

According to trusted sources, members of the Bajrang Dal and VHP, last week, burnt over 300 Christian homes in Orissa.

In an attempt to clamp down on the rioting, authorities had issued a curfew in the region after a Christian woman was killed and 12 people injured.