World | India
Orissa archbishop hides out in Delhi
An archbishop from Orissa has been camping in the national capital since violence erupted in the state targeting the Christian community and says he is unable to return home because of death threats from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.
- IANS
- Published: 00:18 September 19, 2008
New Delhi: An archbishop from Orissa has been camping in the national capital since violence erupted in the state targeting the Christian community and says he is unable to return home because of death threats from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).
Raphael Cheenath, the archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, is hoping to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with a delegation of the Catholic clergy.
"I hope to meet him [Singh] soon. I am waiting for an appointment," he said. "Just last week I received a chilling letter from Hindu groups which said 'blood for blood, life for life'. What can I do?" Cheenath told reporters at the Catholic Bishop Conference of India (CBCI) office here.
Told not to return
The letter stated that the archbishop, who has been staying in Bhubaneswar for three decades and whose house was stoned a couple of days ago, would be killed if he returned to Orissa.
"They [Hindu groups] threatened to kill me. Is this how civilised society behaves?" he asked.
According to Cheenath, his representations to state authorities about how poor tribal families have been under attack have fallen on deaf ears.
"I simply don't have faith in the state government which has failed to protect the lives of Christians in Kandhamal and Sambalpur districts. Most of them are poor and now they are refugees."
Cheenath rejected allegations that Christians were engaged in converting tribals in Orissa. "There is no truth in this. The VHP and Bajrang Dal are twisting facts," he said.
Source of contention
The murder of VHP leader Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswathi by unidentified gunmen at his ashram in August 23 sparked communal clashes in several parts of the state, leading to about 30 people being killed and churches and prayer halls being attacked.
Police suspect Maoist rebels killed Saraswathi but some Hindu groups blamed Christians.
News Editor's choice
-
Kuwait condemns Houla massacre
Arab League urged to put end to oppression of Syrian people
-
Road crashes main cause of child death in UAE
Death rate among children in car accidents in the UAE is three times higher than global average
-
Last minute ID rush is on
Expatriates in Dubai have thronged typing centres and Emirates ID registration offices to meet the May 31 registration deadline
