Daijiworld Media Network - Washington(SP)
Washington DC, Sep 23: Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations in North America (FIACONA) has informed in a press release, that the Indian American community settled in USA is deeply grieved at the continuing assault on Christians in India. To express their solidarity towards the victims of such assaults in Orissa, Karnataka, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh in India, FIACONA will be organizing a peace rally/prayer vigil on Thursday September 25, from 2 to 5 pm at Lafayette Square (North SideOf The White House), it has said.
Christians are falsely implicated in the issue of religious conversions, for the purpose of harassing, humiliating, hounding, raping, mutilating and murdering them, the release has alleged. Several nuns have been gang-raped, priests and pastors killed, scores of churches torched, and thousands have been rendered homeless, it added. President of FIACONA, Fr Bernard Malik said, "I urge the world community to show their solidarity towards the suffering Christians of India, to register their protests in a peaceful way, and to pray for the restoration of human rights, love and peace."
In spite of stern instructions from the central government, the violence goes on unabated. It is to be noted, that the number of Christians killed within the past few weeks is the largest ever in the 61-year history of independent India. Hindu radicals, allegedly the VHP, are perpetrating violence against the Christians. The whole world is shocked and dismayed at the gross violation of human rights and religious tolerance, the release noted. Abraham Mammen, national vice president of
FIACONA said, "Christians are a peace-loving community and they abhor any kind of violence. We do not believe in an eye for an eye, as it would make the world blind."
Christians believe in love and peace. The hate-and-eliminate-Christian campaign, as developed and executed allegedly by the Sangh Parivar outfits, is nothing short of terrorism. Christians are being mercilessly butchered, simply because they love Jesus Christ. Dr Victor Joseph, chairman of the government relations wing of FIACONA said, “Hinduism follows non-violence. VHP follows violence. Hindus feel VHP does not represent Hinduism, but has started its own religion called Hindutva that
is militant in nature. Hindus of India do not identify with the VHP.”
FIACONA has through the release, extended an open invitation to all those who condemn the atrocities unleashed against the Christian brethern by fanatics, alongwith their families, relatives and friends, to participate in this peace rally/prayer vigil. Through the release, FIACONA general secretary Titus Mathew has greatly appreciated the sympathies shown by the fellow Indians but has requested them to take time off, to attend the peace rally/prayer vigil in person.