PM terms Orissa violence a 'national shame'

[oscarf1762]

PM terms Orissa violence a 'national shame'
Agencies
Published on Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 01:49, Updated at Fri, Aug 29, 2008 in Nation section

New Delhi: As parts of Orissa continue to burn in the ongoing communal violence that has claimed the lives of 10 people, the Prime Minister has broken his silence over the issue and has termed it a "national shame".

A group of Christian leaders met Manmohan Singh to seek his intervention in the ongoing violence against Christians in the state, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) spokesman Father Babu Joseph said. He also said that Catholics institutions across India will be shut on Friday in protest.

The Prime Minister has assured leaders of the community that compensation of Rs 3 lakh would be paid to the affected families from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.

Meanwhile, Manmohan Singh spoke to Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and asked him to take immediate steps to stop the violence and restore normalcy, a statement from the Prime Minister's office said.

"A delegation of Catholic Bishops Conference of India along with Archbishop of Delhi met the Prime Minister and apprised him of the recent situation in Orissa. The PM mentioned that the Central Government was in touch with the state government and every effort would be made to restore normalcy in the state," the statement said.

The statement added that the PM later spoke to Naveen Patnaik over the phone and has asked him to provide protection to the Christian minorities in Orissa and also to provide immediate relief to the affected people, particularly children.

I would like to ask the PM if these Christians missionaries start converting Sikhs… Will the Sikhs keep quite and turn a Nelson’s eye? If so, my dear PM please request these Christian missionaries to convert the Sikhs!

Pope condemns religious violence in India
Associated Press
Published on Wed, Aug 27, 2008 at 18:52 in World » World360 section

Vatican City: Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday condemned anti-Christian violence in India, where at least 11 people were killed in three days of violence as Christians clashed with Hindu mobs attacking churches, shops and homes.

During his weekly audience at the Vatican, Benedict said he was ''profoundly saddened'' by the news of the violence against Christian communities in eastern India.

''I firmly condemn any attack on human life,'' Benedict told a crowd of faithful and pilgrims. ''I express spiritual closeness and solidarity to the brothers and sisters in faith who are being so harshly tested.''

The pope also called the killing of a Hindu leader ''deplorable''. Hardline Hindus have blamed that death on Christian militants, setting off the latest violence in India's Orissa state.

Also, Italian Govt. has condemned the religious Violence.

Hey Pope…mind your own business. When Muslims are converting your flock in Africa and USA, did the Holy See keep quite? NO, you have used a different methods but result was same.

Italy is the only nation in the whole world whose official religion is Roman Catholicism. They have to change this stance and treat all other religions as State religions. They have no business to interfere with the internal affairs of India.