PM 'unhappy' over Archbishop's comment

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 7. The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, is reported to be ``unhappy'' over the public criticism of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) by some prominent Christian missionaries for its report declaring that the recent attacks on Christians in Mathura and Agra were not of a communal nature.

According to sources, the Prime Minister conveyed his ``unhappiness'' quite sharply to the Archbishop of Delhi, Rev. Alan de Lastic, when the latter called on him on Saturday. He is reported to have pointed out to the Archbishop that the NCM was headed by a very respected member of the minority community -- a former Judge -- and questioning its credibility was not fair.

The Commission, the Prime Minister said, was set up to safeguard the interests of the minorities and such public criticism of its findings was likely to undermine people's faith in it. The Prime Minister, it is learnt, sounded very annoyed.

He also reportedly rejected the Archbishop's plea for reservation for Dalit Christians pointing out after Dalits converted to Christianity, they ceased to be Dalits.

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Section  : National
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