Committee for dialogue between religious groups

By Our Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR, FEB. 23. The National Commission for Minorities is taking all possible steps to organise a dialogue between the religious leaders of the majority community and the Christian community both at the State and national levels.

The national-level dialogue, aimed at restoring harmony between the communities, is likely to take place in New Delhi during March or April.

This will be followed by similar discussions in the States that have reported attacks on Christians during the past few years, according to the Commission chairman, Mr. Justice Mohammad Shamim.

Talking to presspersons here on Wednesday, Mr. Justice Shamim and other office-bearers and members of the Commission said that the recent attacks on Christians and churches across the country were not organised by any organisation run by the members of the majority community. ``There is no organised violence against the Christians in the country.''

Investigations into several incidents in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Karnataka and Orissa had indicated that attacks on Christians were not organised by any organisation or body, the Commission members said, while adding that the incidents were different from each other.

The Commission vice-chairman, Mr. Tarlochan Singh, said that the problem facing Christians in the country was not beyond control.

Support from Hindu religious leaders was required to give protection to Christians, he said.

About the dialogue being initiated by the Commission, Mr. John Joseph, a member of the Commission, said that both minority and majority communities should try to avoid all irritants.

``Leaders of both sides need to face each other and find out solutions to the problem,'' he said.

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Section  : Other States
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