Paris, Sep 30 (IANS) The attacks on Christians are “sporadic incidents” and they should not be used to “generalise and draw conclusions on the fate of minorities in India”, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said.
In interview with French daily Le Figaro, Manmohan Singh said: “I deeply regret these incidents but one should not generalise and draw a conclusion on the fate of minorities in India.”
The question asked was: What do you have to say to those who are worried about the persecution of Christians in Eastern India?
The prime minister answered: “There had been sporadic incidents. Our Constitution guarantees religious freedom. India is a secular country where all the citizens have the same rights, whatever be their religion. I have myself condemned what has happened and personally intervened with the concerned states. The central government sent special forces to the concerned regions to help restore normalcy. I deeply regret these incidents but one should not generalise and draw a conclusion on the fate of minorities in India.”
The European Union had ticked off the prime minister for his government’s failure to prevent what it called “massacre” of Christians in Orissa and Karnataka. The violence against Christians in Orissa’s Kandhamal region has led to thousands of them fleeing their homes to live in the jungles.