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Monday, Dec 31, 2007
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PM assurance to church leaders

Anita Joshua

Government will take steps to provide full security to Christians in Orissa

.— PHOTO: PTI/ Vijay Verma

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with Delhi Archbishop Vincent Concessao in New Delhi on Sunday

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday assured a delegation of church leaders that the government would take steps to provide full security to the community, and protect the religious freedom guaranteed by the Constitution to all citizens.

The delegation — led by Archbishop of Delhi Vincent Concessao — met the Prime Minister to apprise him of the situation in Orissa, where the Christian community and its institutions have been under attack since Christmas-eve.

Dr. Singh told the delegation that steps would be taken to offer appropriate compensation for the damage caused to property. A Union Minister would visit Orissa to take stock of the situation.

Expresses concern

The Prime Minister expressed deep concern at the incidents and told the delegation that he reviewed the situation in the affected areas on Sunday morning while speaking to the Orissa Chief Minister.

The delegation included Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of the Cuttack Bhubaneswar diocese of the Catholic Church.

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