Christian, minority groups stage dharna against blasts

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JUNE 17. Members of the Christian community staged a dharna, under the aegis of the All-India Christian Council and the State Minorities Welfare Organisation here on Saturday, demanding a judicial probe by a sitting Supreme Court judge into the five incidents of bomb blasts in churches and one at a temple recently in the State and punishment to the culprits.

Speakers alleged that a vicious campaign against Christians was being carried on for the past two years in the State and in the country by the BJP, RSS, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal and asked if this was the reward the country could give to the missionaries for their work among the poor and in the educational and medical fields.

They said the culprits responsible for the blasts were not identified as yet. The Christian community was shocked at the ``utter failure'' of law and order. They said the community would continue its work despite ``persecution''.

Mr. M. Satyanarayana Rao, APCC president, Mr. B.V. Raghavulu, State CPI(M) secretary, Mrs. N. Lakshmi Parvati, president of NTR-TDP, Mr. V. Hanumantha Rao, ex-MP, Mr. V. Vijayasikhamani, Mrs. Mary Ravindranath, former Congress(I) MLAs, and Mr. John Wesley, State DYFI secretary, joined them at different points and condemned the blasts.

A pamphlet issued by the National Congress of Indian Christians demanded that the TDP withdraw support to the BJP at the Centre.

Mr. Manoj Alexander, chief organiser, said they would continue the stir and would not mind laying down their lives if any more bomb blasts occurred.

Mr. Hanumantha Rao said he would throw a bomb at the Chief Minister's residence if any more church was blasted. But, he corrected this later saying what he meant was a ``political bomb''. Mrs. Parvati alleged that the blasts were part of a conspiracy to divert public attention from the power tariff hike.

Mr. Satyanarayana Rao and Mr. Raghavulu, who recalled their association with missionaries during their education, said their parties would be one with the Christians in this hour of crisis.

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Section  : Southern States
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