Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Sambalpur (Agenzia Fides) - To protect Christians and ensure their rights under the Constitution is what the Christian Forum Sambalpur, district of the Indian state of Orissa, call for in a Memorandum sent to the Governor of the state, S.C. Jamir. As Fides learns, the plight of Christians returned to public attention on the occasion of the anniversary of the violence suffered in 2007 and, in a systematic way, in August 2008 in the state of Orissa. Christians celebrate a special "Day of Remembrance" on August 25, to commemorate the massacres. In particular, the affected area was the district of Kandhamal: after the wave of religious violence, over 400 villages were "cleansed" of all Christians; 5,600 houses and 296 churches were burned, 100 people died (but the government recognizes only 56), thousands were injured, many women raped, 56,000 displaced people in all.
The Forum reminds the government: "We, followers of Christ, are compassionate, kind, humble: we ask you to ensure peace, security and protection to Christian minorities in Orissa". The Forum expresses "profound gratitude to the administration of the district of Sambalpur for having enforced the law, ensuring peace and security to the Christian community in recent years".
The interreligious situation in the state of Orissa is currently under control, note sources of Fides, but vigilance is still needed, especially to control Hindu extremist groups. Hindu extremist leader Pravin Togadia, of the "Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP,"World Hindu Council) organization, was forbidden, by the authorities, to enter the district of Kandhamal. It was feared, in fact, that Togadia’s speeches could inflame and incite new violence. Togadia had often visited the area in 2008 in particular, on the eve of the anti-Christian violence. (PA-SD) (Agenzia Fides 24/08/2015)
