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Christians slam Modi for not condemning church attacks
PM remains silent after four incidents in Delhi in six weeks.
Posted on January 15, 2015, 5:36 PM
New Delhi:
Indian Prime Minister Narender Modi is coming under fire from
Christian leaders and the opposition Congress Party for not condemning
several recent attacks on churches in New Delhi.
In the latest
incident — the fourth in less than two months — a Marian grotto at a
parish church was found vandalized on Wednesday.
CCTV footage
showed two people arriving on a motorbike and one of them breaking glass
in the grotto, said Father Savarimuthu Shankar, Delhi archdiocese
spokesman.
Church leaders say they see a pattern in the attacks
and suspect members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), an
umbrella group for Hindu hardliners and the political wing of Modi's
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"These are not isolated events. It is the fourth attack on a church in Delhi
archdiocese since December 1," Father Shankar said.
Such attacks on Christians have increased ever since Modi came to power last
May, he added.
Modi's
political opponents say Hindu hardliners, who are pushing for a
Hindu-only India, are emboldened by the BJP's election victory.
Despite media reporting on several attacks, Modi has not made any public
statement condemning them.
"The
prime minister owes an answer to all.... In fact his silence is
eloquent and disturbing," opposition Congress Party spokesman Abhishek
Singhvi told ucanews.com on Wednesday.
He said Hindu hardliners
are "deliberately and consistently" trying to lead the country toward
polarization, especially with state elections due in Delhi next month.
According
to John Dayal, a lay Catholic leader, "a political attempt at
polarization of the people would be the first explanation as to why
these incidents are taking place”.
Dayal, also a member of the
National Integration Council, questioned Modi's silence on the attacks.
He said although Modi has assured security to the minority Christian
community, he has yet to take action to stop hate campaigns and comments
by right-wing activists.
“I still feel the prime minister must
openly denounce such attacks on religious minorities and denounce those
involved ... even if they belong to his own Sangh Parivar [clan of
pro-Hindu groups],” he added.
However, Hindu groups say "it is not fair" to blame them for the incidents.
"These
are small and isolated incidents ... essentially related to a law and
order issue. We would appreciate it if law enforcement agencies take
prompt and timely actions. We would also appreciate if people also have
faith in the law enforcement agencies," RSS leader Pradip Joshi told
ucanews.com.
"We do not endorse any act of vandalism and it will
not be fair to put blame on organizations or individuals if some
individuals have been found involved in some incidents,” said BJP
leader, Ravinder Kapur, echoing the same view.
Protestant leaders say a Modi denouncement of the attacks would ease the
situation.
“The
silence of the prime minister encourages those forces which want to
create tension in society. Attacks even on places of worship are not
taken seriously,” Samuel Jaykumar of the National Council of Churches in
India, told ucanews.com.
He said the attitude of the federal government toward these incidents is making
the Christian community feel unsafe.
Father
Shankar said an ecumenical group including three bishops met with Modi
around Christmas and the prime minister "refused to make a statement
about attacks on Christians".
Modi told them the reported attacks were "media hype" to counter his
"development agenda," Father Shankar said.
Prior
to Wednesday's incident, a mysterious fire gutted a church on December
1, while stones were thrown at another church two weeks later. Over
Christmas, a Nativity scene at a parish church was also set on fire.
Source: ucanews.com
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http://www.ucanindia.in/news/police-arrest-suspects-in-delhi-church-attack/27474/daily
Police arrest suspects in Delhi church attackPolice said the all three were
under the influence of alcohol and committed the crime over a bet.Posted on
January 16, 2015, 8:57
New Delhi: Three people were Thursday arrested for vandalising a church in the
capital, police said.
Narender Singh alias Raja, 33, Ravinder Pal Singh Gill, 25 and Harpreet Singh
Dhanjal alias Kaka, 28 were arrested from Nihal Vihar area of Delhi, police
said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Pushpendra Kumar said all three were under the
influence of alcohol and committed the crime over a bet on who could smash the
windowpane at the Our Lady of Graces church in Vikaspuri area.
"Gill, who is unemployed, broke the glass and also a portion of the church. He
came on a scooter while Dhanjal came on a motorcycle to witness the act," the
police official said.
Police said all the accused were residents of a nearby area. They were arrested
after being identified through the footage of the CCTV camera installed at the
church gate.
Narender Singh worked as an aluminium fabricator while Dhanjal was an air
conditioner mechanic.
Delhi Archbishop Anil J.T. Couto expressed joy at the news of the arrest in a
press release.
“I am glad that the police have nabbed the culprits and are investigating them
as to know the motive behind the act of vandalism."
He expressed hope that police would soon find the culprits involved in other
attacks on churches in Delhi.
He also wanted central government to act swiftly and ensure that proper law and
order is maintained in the national capital.==============
