By IANS
Bhopal : Thousands of Christians took out a candlelight procession here Thursday evening to protest what they described as increasing attacks on minorities in Madhya Pradesh.
The protestors were also joined by leaders of other minority communities including Muslims, Sikhs and Buddhists, carrying candles and banners appealing to stop attacks on minorities.
Later a 27-member delegation led by Archbishop Leo Cornelo met Governor Balram Jakhar and submitted a memorandum urging him to ask the state government to provide security to Dalits and minorities.
“Minorities are increasingly being attacked by Hindu fundamentalists in different parts of the state and the administration is not taking action against them,” the memorandum alleged.
The delegation also told the governor that police were not cooperating with them. In most cases, police do not even file the FIR (first information report), they alleged.
“The governor told us that he had already spoken to the government about the safety and security of minorities and Dalits and he will further persuade the government in this regards,” said Cornelio, archbishop and chairman, Catholic Bishops’ Council of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
The latest incident of attack on minorities took place in Indore district Oct 25.
“Five nuns were beaten up Thursday night by a mob of 20 Hindu activists, when they were returning after a cottage prayer meeting at their driver’s house. They were dragged and their clothes were torn,” Sister Geo of Fransiscan Clarist Congregation (FCC), to which the victims belonged, told IANS.
The community organised a sit-in protest in Indore Sunday and closed down institutions run by them in the districts of Indore, Dhar, Manpur and Devas.
“If the government will not take action against the culprits of the Indore incident in particular, we will hold more such rallies and processions throughout the country,” said Father Anand Muttungal, regional public relations officer of the Catholic Church here.
On the other hand, Dharma Raksha Samiti convenor Kamal Waghela said, “The sisters have been indulging persuading people for religious conversion in the locality and they have lured people to accept Christian faith.”