A delegation representing millions of Christians in India met the Vice President of India on Saturday to appeal for action by the Indian Government to halt ongoing attacks on Christians in Orissa.
Reports coming from rural Orissa indicate that radical Hindutva groups continue to destroy churches and attack Christians. Large rallies across India on Thursday and meetings with central and state authorities have produced little if any actions to protect Christians in the eastern state, the All India Christian Council said.
The All India Christian Council is a coalition of thousands of Indian denominations, organisations and lay leaders that was birthed in 1998 to protect and serve the Christian community, minorities, and the oppressed castes.
Its delegation met Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari and submitted a memorandum of confirmed attacks and proposed government actions to re-establish the rule of law and justice in Orissa.
Ansari became Vice President of India in August 2007 and was previously the Chairman of India’s National Commission for Minorities.
The delegation included representatives from India’s largest Christian Organisations including the All India Christian Council (aicc), Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) and Christian Legal Association (CLA).
“We told his Excellency that, in spite of assurances from the Orissa state government and the Union Home Minister, the situation remains very tense, especially for Christians in rural Orissa,” said Rev Abraham Sahu, aicc Delhi Chapter President.
