Click to play videoNew Delhi: Outraged by the attack on Christians in Orissa, Christian schools and colleges across the country will remain shut on Friday as a sign of solidarity.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), which met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday, has called for a “peaceful protest” to highlight the issue.
Christian leaders have also asked the Government to conduct an independent enquiry into the killing of VHP leader Swami Lakshmanada, saying this would stop the “unfair targeting” of the community.
"Its the second incident of violence against Christians in Orissa in the past seven months, the government should hold an independent enquiry and the nation should know the truth,” says Spokesperson of Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, Rev Babu Joseph.
Members of the Catholic Bishops's Conference and other Christian organisations will be on a dharna outside the Orissa Bhawan in the capital on Friday.
Manmohan Singh has asked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to provide protection to Christians in the state and maintain law and order.
Orissa has been on the boil since Saturday evening when Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, a member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), and four others were killed at his Jalespata ashram in Kandhamal. Saraswati was campaigning against religious conversions and cow slaughter. His killing triggered violence against the Christian community by the Hindus in the state.
(Inputs from Agencies and CNN-IBN)
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