IANS
NEW DELHI, MARCH 20
Concerned over the growing attacks on the Christian community across the country 19 Christian Members of Parliament met in New Delhi to chalk out an effective strategy to counter these attacks and project the community’s immense contribution to the nation. The parliamentarians also expressed concern about continuing attacks on minorities and hoped that the assurances given by the honourable prime minister would be honoured.
The MPs were of the view that the majority community is not communal but it is only a minuscule minority amongst the majority community which is so. They said attention should be amply focussed on the work done by the Christian community that runs schools, colleges, hospitals, old age homes, and orphanages across the country and was deeply involved in the uplift of society as a whole.
The meeting, which was held at Bishop’s House was attended by a several senior members including former Lok Sabha Speaker P.A. Sangma of Meghalaya, Derec O’Brian from West Bengal, Jose K Mani of Kerela, former Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Oscar Fernandes, P.J. Kurian and Rabi Barnard amongst others.
The meeting was also attended by two of the four Indian Cardinals, namely Ivan Dias and Baselios Cleemis.
The meeting further decided to meet every quarter and the next meeting would be held in the first week of May. It was also decided that a common agenda paper would be prepared and would be circulated amongst the larger Christian community with the aim of bringing all denominations under a single banner.
