NEW DELHI, Oct 19 – In wake of attacks on Christians in Orissa and Karnataka, the US, Britain and Australia have voiced their concern to the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) here and sought to know what steps were being taken to address the situation. Senior officials of the US, UK and Australia met NCM members here over the last few days to discuss the issues related to Christian minorities in India against the backdrop of the recent violence against them in the two States.
Joanella Morales, Foreign Affairs Officer at the US Department of State, came all the way from Washington to meet the NCM members, reflecting the seriousness with which Washington has seen these attacks.
“She sought to know details of the violence, and particularly the rape of a nun. She questioned whether women are not quite safe here and what the NCM was doing to ensure safety of Christians in the country,” said NCM member Harcharan Singh Josh with whom Morales met.
While explaining to Morales that NCM was only a recommendatory authority, Josh told her that the Commission had conveyed its concern over the situation to the government and the latter was taking serious action in the matter.
“We told her that NCM sent its fact finding teams to Orissa and Karnataka and also submitted its reports to the Central Government,” Josh told PTI.
UK Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Lord Mallock Brown and Acting High Commissioner of Australia in India David Holly also met NCM Chairman Mohd Shafi Qureshi over the attacks on Christians.
In their meeting with NCM Chairman, both Brown and Holly sought to know how the communal violence unfolded in the twin States, what was done to the culprits and what steps were taken for the safety of the Christians there.
“Both Brown and Holly wanted to know why the Christians are being attacked in Kandhamal and Mangalore and about the conversion controversy. NCM has told them the Central Government is keen to take action against those instigating such violence and is keeping a watch on the developments,” Qureshi said.
They reportedly also sought to know why the Central Government is not taking action against the States despite constitutional provisions, he said. NCM later briefed them about the actions taken by the Central Government.
“Although the violence in both Karnataka and Orissa came up for discussion, the incidents in Orissa evoked more reaction as the situations is still tense there,” Josh said.
The Commission also rued that such incidents are generating negative impression about the country among foreign countries.
“NCM feels this is embarrassing for India. This whole thing appears to be affecting the image of the country at large,” he added. – PTI
Joanella Morales, Foreign Affairs Officer at the US Department of State, came all the way from Washington to meet the NCM members, reflecting the seriousness with which Washington has seen these attacks.
“She sought to know details of the violence, and particularly the rape of a nun. She questioned whether women are not quite safe here and what the NCM was doing to ensure safety of Christians in the country,” said NCM member Harcharan Singh Josh with whom Morales met.
While explaining to Morales that NCM was only a recommendatory authority, Josh told her that the Commission had conveyed its concern over the situation to the government and the latter was taking serious action in the matter.
“We told her that NCM sent its fact finding teams to Orissa and Karnataka and also submitted its reports to the Central Government,” Josh told PTI.
UK Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Lord Mallock Brown and Acting High Commissioner of Australia in India David Holly also met NCM Chairman Mohd Shafi Qureshi over the attacks on Christians.
In their meeting with NCM Chairman, both Brown and Holly sought to know how the communal violence unfolded in the twin States, what was done to the culprits and what steps were taken for the safety of the Christians there.
“Both Brown and Holly wanted to know why the Christians are being attacked in Kandhamal and Mangalore and about the conversion controversy. NCM has told them the Central Government is keen to take action against those instigating such violence and is keeping a watch on the developments,” Qureshi said.
They reportedly also sought to know why the Central Government is not taking action against the States despite constitutional provisions, he said. NCM later briefed them about the actions taken by the Central Government.
“Although the violence in both Karnataka and Orissa came up for discussion, the incidents in Orissa evoked more reaction as the situations is still tense there,” Josh said.
The Commission also rued that such incidents are generating negative impression about the country among foreign countries.
“NCM feels this is embarrassing for India. This whole thing appears to be affecting the image of the country at large,” he added. – PTI
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