Parties to protest attack on priest

THANE, AUG. 12. All political parties in Thane, today decided to take out a protest rally in the city on August 15 to condemn the brutal attack on the priest of the St. John the Baptist church here on Monday last, by activists of the Bajrang Dal. The priest who received serious wounds on his head is recovering at the Holy Family hospital, Bandra.

The rally was decided at an all-party meeting here which was not attended by the BJP and the Shiv Sena. Addressing a news conference, the senior Congress leader, Mr. Subash Kanade, said that all like-minded parties had joined together to hold a protest march to be taken out on Independence day. He declared that the citizens of the city cannot keep quiet when such attacks are made on religious heads and places of religion be it of any religion. ``We unite here as aggrieved citizens keeping aside our political affiliation,'' he said. Among those present for the conference were Mr. Padmanabhan of the Communist party, Mr. Rajay Gaikwad, and Mr. Waghmare of the Republican Party and Mr. N.P. Patil, of the Sarva Shramik Sangh.

Schools to remain closed

The Archbishop of Bombay, Cardinal Ivan Dias, called for a ``Christian response'' of prayers, forgiveness and a peaceful reaction to the attack, at a mass held at the church of St. John the Baptist.

- PTI, UNI

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : National
Previous : CBI notice to 2 Tehelka scribes
Next     : CAG points to delay in supply of small arms