Headlines
Christian parliamentarians form strategy to counter attacks
New Delhi, March 20
Concerned over the growing
attacks on the Christian community across India, 19 Christian MPs on
Friday met here and chalked out a strategy to counter these attacks and
project the community's immense contribution to the nation.
The
parliamentarians also expressed concern about continuing attacks on
minorities and hoped that the assurances given by the Prime Minister
Narendra Modi would be honoured.
"The parliamentarians were of
the view that the majority community is not communal but it is only a
minuscule minority amongst the majority community which is so," a press
communique stated.
Attention should be focussed on the work done
by the Christian community that runs schools, colleges, hospitals, old
age homes, and orphanages across the country and was deeply involved in
the uplift of society as a whole, the statement said
The meeting
also decided that a common agenda paper would be prepared and would be
circulated amongst the larger Christian community with the aim of
bringing all denominations under a single banner.
The meeting,
which was held at Bishop's House was attended by several senior members
including former Lok Sabha speaker P.A. Sangma of Meghalaya, Derek
O'Brian from West Bengal, Jose K Mani of Kerela, former Nagaland Chief
Minister Neiphiu Rio, Oscar Fernandes, P.J. Kurian and Rabi Barnard
amongst others.
The meeting was also attended by two of the four Indian Cardinals, namely Ivan Dias and Baselios Cleemis.
The MPs also decided to meet every quarter and the next meeting would be held in the first week of May.