19.3.15

PM concerned


Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern over vandalization of a church in BJP -ruled Haryana and the gangrape of an elderly nun in West Bengal. “PM is deeply concerned about the incidents in Hisar, Haryana and Nadia, West Bengal,“ the PMO tweeted, adding that reports on facts regarding the two incidents and actions taken have been sought from the governments of Haryana and West Bengal.
The PM's response came after protests in Parliament against attacks on Christians, and assumes significance because of his condemnation of attacks on Christians exactly a month ago. “I condemn violence against any religion. We will act strongly against such violence,“ Modi had told a gathering of Christians on February 17. Modi followed that up by telling Parliament lat er in the month that his government would not let any religious group victimize others. “No one has the right to take the law into his own hands, discriminate on the basis of community ,“ he said while replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to the President's address in LS.
Given this backdrop, fresh attacks on Christians may have discomfited the PM. His remarks on the attack on a church under construction in Haryana may even appear to be somewhat at variance with those of Manohar Lal Khattar, whom he picked as Haryana CM. Although Khattar also criticized the assault on the church and vowed to take action against those found guilty , he went on to read out from the report from the ground about the possible provocation for the vandalization, particularly proselytization activity , something that was interpreted as an attempt at rationalization.
On February 17, against the backdrop of criticism that he had not tried to assuage apprehensions among Christians over Vishwa Hindu Parishad's “reconversion“ drive, Modi said, “My government will not allow any group belonging to majority or minority to incite hatred against others, overtly or covertly.“ “Everyone has the undeniable right to retain or adopt the religion of his or her choice without coercion or undue influence,“ Modi further said in remarks which seemed to be specifically addressing the issues arising from VHP's “ghar wapsi“ programme.

No comments: