"Democratic India" at stake

Archbishop of Delhi: Anti-Christian Violence a Crisis of Indian Democracy

By Nirmala Carvalho
9/19/2008

Asia News (www.asianews.it/)

The Archbishop warns that Hindu extremism brings the constitutional pillars of the country into crisis as the violence against Christians continues to spread.

As the missionary sisters of Mother Teresa and so many other faithful Catholics continue to spread love through their deeds of sacrifice and compassion, the ferocity of Hindu Extremism spreads and the violence escalates.

NEW DELHI (AsiaNews) - The "violence and terror" underway in Orissa and in other states in India are not only a problem of "respect for the minorities", but also involve the future of "India's democracy". This is affirmed by the archbishop of the capital, Vincent Concessao, in an interview with AsiaNews. "India, the world’s largest democracy, was recognised as a vibrant multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and multi-lingual democracy. Sadly, today the image of ‘democratic India’ is at stake".

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In addition to the violence taking place in Orissa, Karnataka, Madya Pradesh, and Kerala, Archbishop Concessao also cites abuses by Hindu fundamentalists in Delhi. Just yesterday, a Hindutva group occupied the property in front of the church of Prabhu Prakash Girija, in Trilokpuri, in the eastern part of Delhi.