Wed, Oct 8 06:59 PM New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) Senior BJP leader L K Advani today termed the rape of a nun in Orissa as a "shameful crime against humanity" and denounced violence against Christians in the state and other places for which Sangh Parivar outfits have been accused. Amid mounting pressure on the government to act against Bajrang Dal for anti-Christian violence in Orissa and some other states, Advani also talked about the need for restoring peace and a sense of security in the state through cooperation between the communities.
After a meeting with a delegation of Christian leaders here, he also favoured immediate initiation of a "sustained and sincere" dialogue between Hindus and Christians on religious conversions. In a joint statement issued after about two-hour meeting, Advani described the rape of a nun in Orissa as a "shameful crime against humanity". He condemned the "violence and vandalism that marked the attack on churches and innocent Christians in Orissa and elsewhere in the country," the statement said. The Christian leaders, on their part, condemned the "heinous" killing of VHP leader Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati and his four disciples in Kandhmal in Orissa in August. "In the meeting it was unanimously resolved that all efforts should be made to restore peace, normalcy and a sense of security in strife-torn areas with the co-operation of the governments concerned and leaders of the Hindu and Christian communities," Advani told reporters after the meeting. The Christian delegation comprised Archbishop of Orissa Raphael Cheenath, Archbishop of Delhi Vincent Concessao and spokesman of Delhi Catholic Archdiocese Dominic Emmanuel. PTI.