ID :
25451
Sun, 10/19/2008 - 22:22
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/25451
The shortlink copeid
Global community voice concern over attacks on Christians
New Delhi, October 19 (PTI) In wake of attacks on Christians in Orissa and Karnataka, the U.S., Britain and Australia have voiced their concern to the National Commission for Minorities (N.C.M.) here and sought to know what steps were being taken to address the situation.
Senior officials of the U.S., U.K. and Australia met N.C.M. members here over the last few days to discuss the issues related to Christian minorities in India against the backdrop of the recent violence against them in the two states.
Joanella Morales, Foreign Affairs Officer at the U.S.
Department of State, came all the way from Washington to meet
the N.C.M. members, reflecting the seriousness with which
Washington has seen these attacks.
"She sought to know details of the violence and
particularly the rape of a nun. She questioned whether women
are not quite safe here and what the N.C.M. was doing to
ensure safety of Christians in the country," said N.C.M.
member Harcharan Singh Josh with whom Morales met.
While explaining to Morales that N.C.M. was only a
recommendatory authority, Josh told her that the Commission
had conveyed its concern over the situation to the government
and the latter was taking serious action in the matter.
"We told her that N.C.M. sent its fact finding teams to
Orissa and Karnataka and also submitted its reports to the
Central government," Josh told PTI.
U.K. minister of State for Foreign Affairs Lord Mallock
Brown and Acting High Commissioner of Australia in India David
Holly also met N.C.M. Chairman Mohd Shafi Qureshi over the
attacks on Christians.
In their meeting with N.C.M. Chairman, both Brown and
Holly sought to know how the communal violence unfolded in the
twin states, what was done to the culprits and what steps were
taken for the safety of the Christians there.
"Both Brown and Holly wanted to know why the Christians
are being attacked in Kandhamal and Mangalore and about the
conversion controversy. N.C.M. has told them the Central
government is keen to take action against those instigating
such violence and is keeping a watch on the developments,"
Qureshi said.
They reportedly also sought to know why the Central
government is not taking action against the states despite
constitutional provisions, he said. N.C.M. later briefed them
about the actions taken by the Central government.
"Although the violence in both Karnataka and Orissa came
up for discussion, the incidents in Orissa evoked more
reaction as the situations is still tense there," Josh said.
The Commission also rued that such incidents are
generating negative impression about the country among foreign
countries.
"N.C.M. feels this is embarrassing for India. This whole
thing appears to be affecting the image of the country at
large," he added. PTI
Senior officials of the U.S., U.K. and Australia met N.C.M. members here over the last few days to discuss the issues related to Christian minorities in India against the backdrop of the recent violence against them in the two states.
Joanella Morales, Foreign Affairs Officer at the U.S.
Department of State, came all the way from Washington to meet
the N.C.M. members, reflecting the seriousness with which
Washington has seen these attacks.
"She sought to know details of the violence and
particularly the rape of a nun. She questioned whether women
are not quite safe here and what the N.C.M. was doing to
ensure safety of Christians in the country," said N.C.M.
member Harcharan Singh Josh with whom Morales met.
While explaining to Morales that N.C.M. was only a
recommendatory authority, Josh told her that the Commission
had conveyed its concern over the situation to the government
and the latter was taking serious action in the matter.
"We told her that N.C.M. sent its fact finding teams to
Orissa and Karnataka and also submitted its reports to the
Central government," Josh told PTI.
U.K. minister of State for Foreign Affairs Lord Mallock
Brown and Acting High Commissioner of Australia in India David
Holly also met N.C.M. Chairman Mohd Shafi Qureshi over the
attacks on Christians.
In their meeting with N.C.M. Chairman, both Brown and
Holly sought to know how the communal violence unfolded in the
twin states, what was done to the culprits and what steps were
taken for the safety of the Christians there.
"Both Brown and Holly wanted to know why the Christians
are being attacked in Kandhamal and Mangalore and about the
conversion controversy. N.C.M. has told them the Central
government is keen to take action against those instigating
such violence and is keeping a watch on the developments,"
Qureshi said.
They reportedly also sought to know why the Central
government is not taking action against the states despite
constitutional provisions, he said. N.C.M. later briefed them
about the actions taken by the Central government.
"Although the violence in both Karnataka and Orissa came
up for discussion, the incidents in Orissa evoked more
reaction as the situations is still tense there," Josh said.
The Commission also rued that such incidents are
generating negative impression about the country among foreign
countries.
"N.C.M. feels this is embarrassing for India. This whole
thing appears to be affecting the image of the country at
large," he added. PTI
