The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Attack on villagers condemned

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 21, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Attack on villagers condemned

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, FEB. 20. Several organisations have condemned the attack on villagers from Anantapur allegedly by Sangh Parivar activists at Kota railway station in Rajasthan on Saturday.

The All India Christian Council in a statement on Sunday claimed that the villagers were proceeding to the annual Christian meeting organised by Emmanuel Bible Mission when they were attacked on a false claim that they were brought for religious conversion. The victims belong to Bible College at Anantapur and its churches.

The council argued that a citizen of India had a fundamental right to practise any faith of his choice. The attack by Sangh Parivar activists amounted to infringing the Christian rights.

Conspiracy alleged

Awaaz, a forum for the development of minorities, in a separate statement demanded intervention of the Government to ensure a safe passage for the victims back home. The attack was a conspiracy of the Rajasthan Government and fundamentalist forces, it alleged. The organisation termed unfortunate the remarks of the Rajasthan Welfare Minister that conversions would not be tolerated.

The CPI (M) MLAs -- Paturu Ramaiah and B. Venkat -- president and general secretary respectively of Andhra Pradesh Agricultural Workers' Union, stated in another press release that the poor agricultural labour of Anantapur had a tendency to go with whoever promises them food. They live a miserable life without work due to chronic drought in the district.

It was in this context that they were led to Rajasthan by some persons under a promise of some help.

The youth wing of the National Congress of Indian Christians demanded dismissal of the BJP Government in Rajasthan.

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