Orissa: fears over new Hindu temple built in front of Catholic church
Mumbai (AsiaNews) - The Christian community in Orissa is afraid, insecure and frustrated according to Sajan George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) as it continues to be the victim of official discrimination.
The latest incident occurred on 23 November in Phulbani, Kandhamal District. Catholic Brother KJ Markose, who is also a lawyer, found that the authorities had allowed the construction of a Hindu temple right across from the town's Catholic church.
"The land is owned by the state," he told AsiaNews, "which means that district officials authorised the construction. Two months ago, when I went the last time, there was no sign of a temple."
The two buildings are located opposite one another with little space between.
The local parish priest, Fr Angel, decided to meet with a district official. "I explained to him that Hindu and Christian holidays may overlap and crowds could overflow," he said, "causing difficulties and problems, undermining relations. However, the official was unable to respond" to my request.
The official's attitude "clearly shows the collusion of Hindu radical forces with those in government with the aim of intimidating the Christian minority," Sajan George said. "Orissa must be courageous and stop the fundamentalists' plan so as to prevent targeted violence in the future."
Recently, the town of Phulbani made it into Indian newspapers over some suspicious court verdicts.
Specifically, the court sentenced without evidence seven innocent Christians to life imprisonment in connection with the murder of the Hindu leader Laxamananada, whose death sparked the 2008 anti-Christian pogroms.
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