Prayer rally in Delhi against attacks on Orissa Christians

Christians in the capital saddened over the escalating violence against its community in Orissa, plan to hold a prayer rally at Orissa Nivas, Bordoloi Marg, Chanakyauri, today.

The rally will contain former Prime Minister VP Singh, Delhi Archbishop Vincent Concessao, John Dayal, Church leaders, and several other political leaders together with Civil society and Human Rights activists, who will protest the Sangh violence. University teachers and students, Nuns, pastors, priests and Bishops will also be participating in the event.

At least 15 to 20 churches were attacked and three churches burnt down by Hindu fundamentalists in Kandhmal district, Orissa, on the eve of Christmas. Indefinite curfew was imposed in several towns in the state and twenty people arrested, following attacks on churches.

?This is ominously renascent of the events in the Dangs district of Gujarat almost the day eleven years ago, on Christmas, 1998. The government of the day there, like the government in Orissa, failed to take action. The police were apathetic," said Christian journalist and activist Dr John Dayal.

"The Bharatiya Janata Party then ruling at the Centre?and it is a coalition partner of the Government in Orissa today, sought to defend the Sangh goons. The rest is a dark chapter of India's recent history ? leading to the burning of the Staines family in Orissa a month later, 21st January 1999, and the massacre of Muslims in Gujarat in February–March 2002," ICNS quoted him saying.

Among the organizers participating in the event are United Christian Forum, Delhi catholic Archdiocese, CNI, NCCI, EFI, All India Catholic Union, All India Christian Council, United Christian Action and others.