A Prayer rally for the Christians suffering in Orissa held Sunday noon here at Clock Tower junction, demanded the Prime Minster of India to declare VHP and the Bajrang Dal as terrorist organizations.
The rally organised by Action Committee of Christian Forum Dimapur (CFD) and attended by more than 3,000 people, condemned the atrocities perpetrated on Christians in Orissa by Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal.
CFD in a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh which was read out during the rally, said the unprecedented violence against Christians in Orissa and the violation of their human and constitutional rights to the freedom of religion, was an attack on the secular character of the Indian Constitution and a crime against humanity.
The memorandum pointed out that despite evidence indicating that Maoists were responsible for the murder of Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati, VHP and the Bajrang Dal masterminded a full scale mob violence in which the Christians were burnt alive, nuns raped in public and pastors and priests paraded naked in the streets and places of worship burned down.
The Forum also said the accusation that Christians were converting “poor, ignorant tribals” (outcasts), amply revealed the contemptuous attitude of the Sangh Parivar towards then tribals.
“Orissa has the oldest enacted laws to prevent the ‘outcasts’ becoming Christians. If still they become Christians, it proves that the tribal may be poor and illiterate, but not ignorant. If the outcasts have the right to vote, they have the right to choose their faith,” the Forum said.
CFD also reminded that the “true Christian concept does not admit forced conversion because no body can be converted against ones will in a civilized world. The Christian community shares their faith with those who are willing. We do not force any to accept our faith.”
Affirming trust and commitment to the “cherished values of secularism and pluralistic character of our nation,” the Forum earnestly appealed the Prime Minister to act without hesitation against any person or groups threatening the secular fabric of the country.
The joint memorandum signed by CFD president Rev. L. Bizo, vice president Dr. Dr. P. Dozo, secretary Fr. Chacko Karinthayil, and members Rev. Dr. T. N Lotha, Geoffery Yaden, Rev. N. Tsudir, Rev. Inaho Sumi, Khriesito Angami, Mrs. Khrieleno Terhuja, Rev. Daniel Shyam and Rev. Moses Murry, further requested the Government of India to uphold the spirit of the Constitution and to build a nation of “equality, liberty and fraternity.”
Earlier in the rally, Dr. P Dozo presented a briefing on the Orissa situation and said more than 20,000 thousand Christians had been rendered homeless, churches ransacked and burnt down and hundreds of innocent Christian families killed by RSS, Bajarang Dal and VHP groups.
The programme chaired by Rev. Daniel M. Shayan started with invocation prayer offered Rev. N Paphino, students of New Life Bible College presented a special song, Rev. Moses Murry led a mass prayer for Orissa Christians, while Rev. Fr. Chacko proposed vote of thanks. The rally concluded with benediction pronounced by Rev. Inaho G Swu.
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