PM to meet Pope, asks States to uphold law

By Alok Mukherjee

NEW DELHI, JUNE 24. With a meeting with Pope John Paul II now confirmed for Monday at the Vatican, the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, today expressed deep concern at the recurring incidents of violence against Christians and their institutions, terming these incidents an aberration and an exception to the general texture of peaceful and cordial relations between the various communities in India.

In a statement, Mr. Vajpayee said the BJP-led Government was committed to upholding the law of the land which guarantees equal rights to all citizens without any discrimination, but no rights to anybody or any organisation belonging to any community to spread ill-will and hatred towards another community.

``Since law and order is a State subject, I urge all the State Governments to apply the law of the land fairly, firmly and impartially, investigate every incident thoroughly and bring the culprits to book speedily,'' the statement said.

Mr. Vajpayee said he would like every Indian to realise that ``together we are building a strong and resurgent nation whose confident march forward is being keenly watched by the whole world. Let nothing be done that would slacken the momentum of this march.'' The statement comes on the eve of his five-day visit to Italy and Portugal where the attacks on Christians was bound to figure during the official discussions. Also, a last minute re-scheduling of his programme in Rome was undertaken so as to organise a meeting with the Pope in the forenoon of Monday.

Originally, a meeting with the Pope was not on the agenda of the Prime Ministerial visit to Italy and Mr. Vajpayee's interactions were to be restricted to the political leadership and Italian industrialists.

Apparently, the suggestion for a meeting with the Pope emanated during a meeting a delegation of Christian leaders had with Mr. Vajpayee on Thursday in connection with the funeral arrangements of the late Alan de Lastic. The Archbishop of Delhi died in a car accident in Poland earlier this week.

The Christian leaders, led by Mr. John Joseph, member of the Minorities Commission, suggested that Mr. Vajpayee call on the Pope during his visit to Rome, particularly in the backdrop of the attacks against Christians and their institutions in the recent days. It was argued that the Prime Minister would be better placed to convey his views about these attacks in a face- to-face meeting with the Pope.

The Prime Minister's Office accepted the suggestion and hectic efforts were made to alter the already chalked out programme of Mr. Vajpayee in Rome on Monday. That day he is scheduled to have bilateral meetings with the Italian Prime Minister, Mr. Giuliano Amato.

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