Orissa Christian leaders reject US report, say India secular

Bhubaneswar, Aug 14 (PTI) Rejecting a report by a US
panel on global religious freedom placing India on the 'Watch
List' for the Gujarat and Kandhamal riots, Christian leaders,
including the Orissa Archbishop, Friday said India is "truely
secular in letter and spirit".

"India is secular in word as well as practice. There
should be no doubt over the secular credentials of India,"
Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Archbishop Rapheal Cheenath told PTI.

"What the US Commission of International Religious
Freedom's(USCIRF) said is against our country's Constitution,"
he said.

Referring to last year's riots in Kandhamal in which
at least 40 people were killed and churches attacked, the
Archbishop said the country's secular character "overpowered"
a few communal elements and has restored peace.

"One should not forget the basics of a country which
thrives on secular character since ages," he said, adding that
India believed in respecting all religions.

Expressing similar views, Orissa Minotiry Forum (OMF)
President Swarupananda Patra said though minorities have been
targets of hate campaigns by a small section, civil society of
the majority community has been extremely cordial and
supportive of the minority community.

Both Cheenath and Patra rejected the US report placing
India on the 'watch list' due to "distubing increase in
communal violence" in the country.

Another organisation, Orissa Secular Front, said riots
in Gujarat and Kandhamal in 2002 and 2008 respectively were
painful but could not be generalised to embarrass the strong
secular foundation of India. PTI AAM
DDC
NNNN




The information contained in this electronic message and any attachments to this
message are intended for the exclusive
use of the addressee(s) and may contain proprietary, confidential or privileged
information. If you are not the intended
recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please
notify the sender immediately and destroy
all copies of this message and any attachments contained in it.