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 New Delhi: All India Christian Council (aicc) has thanked Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil for his timely visit on January 2, 2008, to Kandhamal district in Orissa reeling under violence against Christians since 24 December 2007. The Council also sought to know the details of the happenings in the violence-hit district and the measures taken to rehabilitate the victims.
“In the light of the confusion prevailing over what exactly led to the massive violence in Kandhamal, your visit is a welcome step and wonderful gesture from the Central Government,” aicc national secretary Sam Paul said in a letter written on 2 January 2008.
“Several of our colleagues from New Delhi and Bubaneshwar have been advised by the local police not to go into the district as it is very dangerous for them. At the same time the DGP and the Chief Secretary of Orissa have kept giving public statements that the situation is fully under control. If it is under control, why are independent groups wanting to promote peace and goodwill denied entry?” Sam wondered! “Sir, I just visited the Ministry of Home Affairs website in the following pages at 10:45 pm on 2 January 2008: http://www.mha.nic.in/press-release.htm. There is no statement issued about your visit to Kandhamal district. The nation wants to know what happened to the Tribal Christians in the district, mostly poor who have been made to flee into jungles to save their lives. What led to the Homes, Churches and Properties of Christians being extensively vandalised? It is as if India is incapable of taking care of its own people, when some fundamentalists plan to attack? It would be very kind if you could release to the nation a detailed information about what happened in Kandhamal from 24 December 2007 till date, the action / inaction of the State Government in Orissa, your recommendation as Union Home Minister to the Prime Minister and the President in the light of the massive failure of the State Government in Orissa,” Sam said in a fervent plea to the Home Minister. The aicc leader said the Christian Council would be very glad to know the steps that the Home Ministry had initiated for rehabilitation of the victims and getting those in the relief camps of the State Government back to normal. Also aicc would like to know if any compensation had been initiated for the victims in proportion to the losses they suffered. |
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