India condemns attacks on Christians

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has called on state governments to "firmly and impartially investigate all incidents of violence against Christians in India."

His comments follow a spate of recent anti-Christian violence in India, and come on the eve of a visit to Rome where he will meet the Pope.

My government guarantees no rights to any organisation spreading ill-will and hatred

Atal Behari Vajpayee

During the past two months, there have been bomb attacks on several churches in the south and a number of explosive devices have been found. In northern India, two preachers have been killed.

The most recent attack came on Friday, when 45 graves were desecrated at a cemetery in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

Graves were dug up at the cemetery in Rajahmundry, crosses destroyed and tombstones defaced.

A police spokesman said the destruction took place over a period of several days, and went unnoticed by a cemetery watchman.

Investigating officer L.S. Chauhan said police were questioning a number of people in connection with the attacks, including the watchman.

Security at the cemetery has now been stepped up.

"Hate propaganda"

Amidst the violence, the Catholic Church in India has called on the government to take stronger action.

Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios said India's Christians were facing "a really dangerous situation", and spoke of the "hate propaganda" of one organisation, which reportedly demanded that Christians be "ousted."

Christians make up about 2% of India's population of one billion. Violence against them has risen since 1998 when the Hindu nationalist BJP party came to power.

Prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee condemned the violence

Attacks have included the horrific burning of an Australian missionary and his two young sons.

Hindu fundamentalists groups are suspected to be behind these attacks, but police have so far been unable to solve any of the cases or make any arrests.

Police have instead blamed some of the attacks on Pakistan's intelligence agency.

Allegations

Some of the violence appears to be linked to the controversial question of conversions, which has driven a wedge between Christians and Hindu activists.

Some Christian groups have accused right-wing Hindus allied to the Prime Minister's BJP party of staging the current hate attacks.

We have evidence showing certain (government) tolerance of these incidents

Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios

However, this allegation has been strongly denied by the government.

Mr Vajpayee called the incidents an "aberration and an exception to the general texture of peaceful and cordial relations between the various communities."

A Church spokesman welcomed the prime minister's statement, but hoped that his pledge to investigate the attacks would be matched by action on the ground.