ASIA/INDIA - New Catholic College to be opened in Gujarat state

New Delhi (Fides Service) -The local government has granted permission for the opening of a new Catholic College in Gandhinagar in the state of Gujarat, west India. The news was announced by Archbisop Stanislaus Fernandes of Gandhinagar who said he was delighted at the prospect of having a new Catholic school in the area and happy for the decision taken by the state of Gujarat known for its nationalist policies and the presence of various Hindu fundamentalist groups.
The new Catholic college will be a Training College for Primary School Teachers. According to an agreement with the government half the college places will be reserved for Catholics and the other half will be open to all.
The local Church expressed satisfaction for the permission granted and renewed its hoped that tension, violence and intolerance in Gujarat would gradually give way to social and religioius harmony for the benefit of all citizens.
Another step towards harmony in Gujarat was taken on the occasion of the recent 20th World Youth Day event organised by the Catholic Church in Germany last August for young people from all over the world. In fact the three main religious communities in Gujarat state selected three local girls a Christian, a Hindu and a Muslim to represent them at WYD. This gesure was highly symbolic since in the past Gujarat has been the scene of violence between Hindus and Muslims with thousands of dead and more recently in the news for attacks by Hindu fundamentalists against Christians.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 10/9/2005 righe 23 parole 232)