Church leaders 'ready' to talk

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH 26. Expressing ``deep hurt'' over reported remarks of the RSS Chief, Mr. K. Sudershan, describing Christians as foreigners, church leaders today said they were ready for talks with different groups to clear misunderstandings.

Leaders from the National Council of Churches in India, representing nearly 13 million people and 29 Christian organisations, expressed their willingness to talk to any religious group or organisation to pave way for peace.

``We are not foreigners. Some of the Churches are 2,000-years- old,'' they said. They had a two-hour meeting with the National Commission for Minorities this evening.

The leaders from Protestant and Orthodox Churches said they would discuss with Catholics the modalities of talks and meet the NCM members again. The NCM also made a number of ``constructive and useful'' suggestions for initiating the dialogue but refused to divulge any details.

The NCM vice-chairman, Mr. Tarlochan Singh, described today's meeting as ``immensely successful'' The NCM has also received two letters from the RSS, expressing its readiness to talk to Christian leaders.

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Section  : National
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