The Image of India is at stake: Archbishop of Delhi

New Delhi (AsiaNews) - The "violence and terror" underway in Orissaand in other states in India are not only a problem of "respect forthe minorities", but also involve the future of "India's democracy".This is affirmed by the archbishop of the capital, Vincent Concessao,in an interview with AsiaNews. "India, the world's largest democracy,was recognised as a vibrant multi-ethnic, multi-religious, andmulti-lingual democracy. Sadly, today the image of 'democratic India'is at stake".In addition to the violence taking place in Orissa, Karnataka, MadyaPradesh, and Kerala, Archbishop Concessao also cites abuses by Hindufundamentalists in Delhi. Just yesterday, a Hindutva group occupiedthe property in front of the church of Prabhu Prakash Girija, inTrilokpuri, in the eastern part of Delhi. The property is used as agarden by the Catholics, and the city authorities have placedlimitations on construction on the spot. The church has beenmaintaining the garden since 1991. But the extremist group hasthreatened to build a temple there. Last week, they placed statues ofHindu divinities in a niche set up against the wall of the church.In the past, there have been many clashes between Hindus and Muslimsbecause of attempts by radical Hindus to take possession of Islamicplaces of worship."This is another incident of the growing anti-Christian wave that isspreading its evil tentacles all over our beloved country and sadly,it will have long-term disastrous consequences on secular democracy.These misguided extremists are indoctrinated with the Hinduvtaideology and their methodology and strategy is 'muscle power', they donot respond to either reason or dialogue. It is very much like Nazism,they are brainwashed into believing that India should be exclusivelyHindu, they do not believe in secular democracy"."This is very unfortunate, on the one hand on the global stage, Indiais emerging as a world power in the 21st century, while in our owncountry, there is growing religious intolerance and human rights andfreedom of faith are blatantly violated. The international communityand the world leaders who believe in secular democracy must oppose andcondemn this gross violation of constitutional rights in India. It ismuch larger than 'minority rights', it is a question of the future ofdemocracy in India".