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CHRISTIANS
CALL FOR JUSTICE |
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New Delhi: N. Gopalaswami,
the Chief Election Commissioner of India, announced that
a five-phase parliamentary election would take place
from April 16, with polls ending on May 13.
Just before the announcement both Catholic and
Protestant leaders released a memorandum, which they
plan to give to the leaders of political parties,
stating, "All political parties must put the security of
all religious minorities, and especially of the
Christian community at the top of their electoral
agenda," according to reports.
It also called upon political parties to bring to
justice the “culprits of crimes” committed against
Christians, notably in Orissa, where over 100 Christians
were killed and 50,000 displaced by anti-Christian
violence last year.
During a press conference to announce the memorandum,
some of the Christian leaders spoke of how the
perpetrators of anti-Christian crimes in Orissa were
still free because they have political support.
Archbishop Vincent Concessao of Delhi said that “hate
campaigns” against Christians and Muslims were
continuing in parts of India in order to gain votes for
Hindu political parties.
He added that he wanted political parties and their
supporters to denounce violence and promote justice and
human rights, especially for Muslims and Christians.
The memorandum also requested that political parties
make plans to promote the economic progress of
Christians, who are often among the poorest in India,
and to set up a judicial commission to assess the loss
of rights that they had suffered. It also said that the
rights of Christians from lower castes should also be
restored.
Christians from lower castes often lose out from quotas
meant to help the socioeconomic development of lower
caste people, as Christians themselves do not accept the
Hindu caste system.
Auxiliary Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Delhi said the
memorandum would make "the electorate more alert and
will be heard by all."
He urged people to vote in the upcoming elections and
said that the church believed in democracy and the
secular principles of India. The leaders also said that
they would form an ecumenical delegation and meet the
leaders of all political parties ahead of the election
and present them with the memorandum.
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This page
is updated on April 1, 2009 |
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PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY
10 YEARS CELEBRATION
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