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Rajya Sabha discusses attacks on Christians

The Rajya Sabha today debated the atrocities committed on Christians.

Raising the issue through a private member's resolution, senior Janata Dal member Kamla Sinha regretted that an atmosphere of distrust and intolerance is being fostered by some organisations.

She said the action in the Dangs district of Gujarat was carried out in an organised manner.

She mentioned several other incidents against Christians and said the country's image had been lowered in the international community by these incidents.

Sinha denied that Christian missionaries were converting tribals. If the missionaries had so wished, the whole country would have been converted during the 200-year rule of the British, she said.

She said the missionaries have largely been engaged in the spread of education and medical facilities in remote areas and the people of all communities have benefited from such services.

Arun Shourie of the Bharatiya Janata Party said it was a matter of regret that vested interests used the incidents to raise communal issues. He said the seven incidents that he has compiled did not show any bias against members of the Christian community and this was borne out by the statements of the officers concerned.

In the Dangs, he said, the suspects have been arrested.

He said the Justice D P Wadhwa Commission is investigating the killing of Graham Stewart Stains and his two sons in Orissa.

He quoted a Supreme Court judgment to argue that Article 25 of the Constitution does not make the right to conversion a fundamental right.

UNI

EARLIER REPORT:
Bedlam in Rajya Sabha continues after lunch

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