Catholic schools to stay closed tomorrow

Mumbai: All Catholic educational institutions across the country will remain closed tomorrow to express solidarity with victims of communal violence in Orissa, said Oswald Cardinal Gracias, the Archbishop of Bombay.

The shutdown call was given by the New Delhi-based Catholic Bishops Conference of India. "Though we hope this does not inconvenience the students, we all feel helpless over Christians being terrorised and forced to hide in the jungles," Gracias said at a press conference held yesterday.

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhat; Tushar Gandhi, great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and Maulana Mustaquim, secretary, Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind were present at the press meet.