Attack on Christians rocks RS

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JULY 26. Attacks on Christians in various parts of the country triggered heated exchanges between the Treasury Benches and Opposition members in the Rajya Sabha, leading to two adjournments in the pre-lunch session. Tempers rose after the Opposition protested that the information provided by the Minister of State for Home, Mr. I.D. Swamy, on the recent murder of a Christian school principal near Mathura was inadequate. Members took exception to his comment that ``my agency may give me some information, but I will not come to the House with it.''

The BJP leader, Mr. Venkaiah Naidu, took umbrage at the comment of the senior CPI leader, Mr. J. Chittaranjan, that a concerted `hate campaign' was on against the minority community, especially the Christians.

He said such sweeping statements were aired by the Opposition only when the minority community was attacked. Though the rest of Mr. Naidu's remarks were lost in the din, the Left, supported by the Congress (I) and the RJD, took strong objection to some of his comments.

The Opposition urged the Rajya Sabha Chairman, Mr. Krishan Kant, to ask Mr. Naidu to withdraw his words. There was no response to this and the Opposition stormed the Well of the House, leading to a 10-minute adjournment.

The Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson, Ms. Najma Heptullah, who took the chair after the House re-assembled, announced the second adjournment till 2 p.m. Earlier, in his reply, Mr. I.D. Swamy said States had been asked to provide security to minorities and their institutions and to deal firmly with the perpetrators of violence against them.

War of words

Later, addressing the press, the Congress(I) spokesperson, Ms. Margaret Alva, and Mr. Naidu continued the war of words outside the House. Mr. Naidu appealed to the people not to see every attack on the minorities as a `communal assault'.

After the recent explosions in several churches, there were some evidence to suggest that there were `external forces' at work which wanted to destabilise the country and create disaffection among different communities, he said. Posters and leaflets attacking Hindus, Muslims and Christians had been seized.

Ms. Alva said the minorities had never felt so insecure before. This was because the Government had been unable to `rein in the lunatic fringe of the Sangh Parivar'. Attacks on Christian institutions and churches were on the increase and all kind of `calumny' was being spread against the community. Any protest invariably attracted charges of politicking against the Christian community, she said.

UNI reports:

Mr. Naidu said in the Rajya Sabha that in fact there was an attempt to attack the Hindus in the country. He also regretted that when Hindus were being attacked members did not think it necessary to mention it.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : Kargil heroes remembered
Next     : DF Govt. should go: Opposition