PM faces EU ire over ‘massacre’ of Christians

The issue was taken up strongly with Singh by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is also the head of the European Council, and Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission.

Talking to reporters, Sarkozy strongly dismissed the suggestion that the “massacre” could be equated with the discrimination Sikhs allegedly face in France. Although Sarkozy said he admired Singh’s condemnation of the anti-Christian violence as a “national shame” and his promise to guarantee the religious rights of minority communities in India, the two sides clearly differed on the scale of the violence against Christians in India.

In his reply, the PM said there were “some sporadic incidents” though he declared the determination of the state to ensure that minority communities exercise their constitutional right to profess and propagate their respective faiths. He listed the measures taken by the Centre — advisories to Karnataka and Orissa and deployment of its forces — to emphasize the intent of his government to put an end to violence against Christians allegedly by Bajrang Dal and VHP.

Sarkozy and Barrosso expressed satisfaction with Singh’s assurances. “He is a courageous man. My respect for him has gone up because of his courageous assurances,” Sarkozy said. Barroso spoke in the same vein, saying that “we praise the clarity with which he has condemned the violence”.

The French president, however, was riled by a question which asked about the ban on Sikh turbans in government-funded schools in France.

“Massacre of Christians and the turban issue are not of the same nature,” he snapped. He also made it clear that Sikhs will have to conform to rules of the French Republic.

“We respect their customs and traditions and they are welcome in France. But we have rules regarding the neutrality of civil servants; regarding secularism and those apply not just to Sikhs or Muslims but to all. They are non-discriminatory. So while we respect the customs of Sikhs, we expect them to respect the rules of the Republic,” Sarkozy asserted.

India and the EU have long had a thorny relationship on the issue of human rights. During the heyday of Kashmir terrorism, EU never failed to criticize Indian actions. In 2002, then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was ticked off by Danish PM Anders Rasmussen on human rights abuses of Kashmiris, leading Vajpayee to retaliate.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/PM_faces_EU_ire_over_massacre_of_Christians/articleshow/3541497.cms

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Three killed in fresh firing in Kandhamal, Orissa

NEW DELHI: Three persons have been killed in fresh firing in Gresinghia in Kandhamal district of Orissa according to TV channel Times Now.

Police fired at the mob after two communities clashed in the area. There are reports that some crude bombs were hurled in the area. Several houses were also torched at Raikia and Udayagiri.

Even as community leaders called for peace, crude bombs were also hurled on Monday at two places and houses burned as the faith-fuelled fire of hatred refused to die out in Kandhamal.

Reports from various parts of the district said blasts were directed at relief camps where Christian families, who have been targetted by Hindu activists since the August 23 killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, a local VHP leader who had spewed venom against conversions.

While two crude bombs exploded in separate incidents at Baliguda and K Nuagaon areas on Sunday night, five houses were reportedly torched under Gochhapada police station area in Phirigia block, officials said.

No injuries were reported in Monday’s violence, the official toll in the ethnic and communal violence rose to 31 with the administration confirming recovery of one more body from Badasalunki river at Bisipada village near Phulbani.

On Sunday, police found the body of Priyatamma Digal, an auxiliary nursing and midwife (ANM) worker, from the river. On Monday, the body of Meghanath, Priyatamma’s husband, was fished out. The couple was killed last Thursday.

Local administration held discussions with representatives of warring groups. Tribal Kandh leaders have in the last couple of days called for peace and have come to the negotiating table to talk with Dalit Pana, Christian and Hindu communities as well as some moderates.

“We decided to form committees comprising representatives from all religions, communities and interested groups. Such committees would move around the district and appeal for peace and amity,” said district collector Krishna Kumar, who chaired the meeting. He said committees should be on the ground on October 2, marking Gandhi Jayanti celebrations. The day has also been picked for holding “sadbhavana rallies”.

Souce: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Three_killed_in_fresh_firing_in_Kandhamal_Orissa/articleshow/3543270.cms