Christan institutions remain closed to protest Orissa violence

New Delhi, Aug 29 (PTI) Thousands of Christian educational institutions across the country remained closed on Friday to protest against the attacks on community members in Orissa, with students, teachers and activists taking to streets demanding immediate end to the violence.

The day-long protests called by the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (C.B.C.I.), were backed by a large number of Christian groups including the Protestant Group Church of South India against the communal flare up that has left 12 people dead following the killing of a Viswa Hindu Parishad leader.

In Delhi, prominent colleges like St. Stephens and
Jesus and Mary and schools including Columbus, Mount Carmel
and Don Bosco were closed in response to the stir.

"About 4,500 Christian schools across the country are
closed to express solidarity with the innocent people in
Orissa who have been targeted," Babu Joseph, spokesperson of
Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), said.

Rallies were held in all state capitals and memoranda
were given to governors on the issue, he said.

In Mumbai, prominent citizens from different walks of
life -- film director Mahesh Bhatt, social activist Tushar
Gandhi, Abraham Mathai, general secretary of All India
Christian Council and various community organisations
participated in a rally at Azad Maidan.
Braving incessant rain, thousands of students and
teachers belonging to schools run by various churches took out
procession in Mizoram's capital Aizwal.

In Kerala, schools and colleges run by Catholic Church,
Orthodox Church and the Protestant Group Church of South India
remained shut while several other Christian bodies held prayer
meetings and passed resolutions on the issue.

Institutions, including professional colleges, run by
three Catholic streams--Syro Malabar, Syro Malankara and the
Latin hierarchy--remained closed across Kerala.
Church-run educational institutions in Tamil Nadu also
joined the stir.

In Kolkata, protesters under the banner of Bangiya
Christiya Pariseba, held placards reading 'CM, answer why
Christians are being persecuted in Orissa'.

A group of Christian leaders yesterday met Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh who assured them that "every effort"
would be made to restore normalcy in Orissa.

Convent schools remained closed in Sikkim and Tripura
where a peace rally was organised by a prominent church body
in the capital. Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee
(M.K.H.C.), a conglomerate of 13 major churches, appealed to
all members to observe fast on Sunday.

In the north, missionary schools remained closed in
Punjab and Haryana as well as Uttar Pradesh with prayer
meetings held at several places.

Scores of people also held a demonstration in front of
Orissa Bhavan in Delhi asking the government to ensure law and
order in the state and protect life and property of members of
the minority community.

"Communalism needs to be fought with the same passion
we combat terrorism. Should Gandhiji been alive, he would have
been in the affected Kandhamal in Orissa," Tushar Gandhi, the
great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, said at the rally in Mumbai.

Catholic Secular Forum (C.S.F.) General Secretary
Joseph Dias, who is part of an independent panel looking into
the violence said, "the attack on Christians is nothing short
of fascism." PTI TEAM