Headlines
Missionary schools, hospitals closed to protest attacks
Lucknow, April 23
Missionary schools and
hospitals attached to them here and in ten districts were closed on
Thursday to protest the repeated attacks on the Christian community and
the recent vandalism at a church in Agra.
Missionary office
bearers said that despite an assurance by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
attacks have not stopped across the country leaving the community
vulnerable.
The Christian community also held a silent meeting
earlier in the day and warned of intensifying the stir if adequate
security was not provided to them and Christian properties.
Bishop
Gerald Mathews of the Catholic Diocese said that the attacks were
ominous and it has been seen that beyond assurances not much follow up
action is taken after such incidents. This protest was a wake up call
for the government, he added. Schools and hospitals and clinics in
Hardoi, Unnao, Bahraich, Lakhimpur, Gonda, Barabanki, Sitapur, Shrawasti
and Balrampur also downed shutters in protest.
Assembly of
Believers Church Bishop Augustus Anthony said that if the situation on
the ground did not improve they would launch protests across the state
and later at the national level.