Orissa fallout: Christian schools, colleges shut across India

LET THERE BE PEACE: Catholic Bishops' Conference of India met PM on Thursday.

ibnlive.com is on mobile now. Read news, watch videos
be a Citizen Journalist. Log on to m.ibnlive.com NOW!

Related Stories

Top Headlines

Top Videos

Most Popular

• Pranab has promises to keep in Budget of hope 

• Budget and you: How policies impact your life | Secrecy Cordon around the Budget 

• Youth shot dead by cops had 26 injury marks 

• Varun fears threat to life; Maneka slams Govt 

• CNN-IBN debate: Homosexuality vs Indian morality 

• CPI-M Central Committee to act to curb Kerala infights 

• Kargil victory was certain: ex-army chief | Pay Tribute 

• British Islamic group plans coup in Pakistan: report 

• Scrap EVMs, let's go back to ballot, says Advani 

• Shiney denies he had sex with domestic help 

• Pranab has promises to keep in Budget of hope 

• Youth shot dead by cops had 26 injury marks 

• Kargil victory was certain: ex-army chief 

• Bollywood stars sizzle at the IIFA fiesta 

• IBNFocus: TDS process simplified 

• No minister contacted Madras HC judge: CJI 

• Scrap EVMs, let's go back to ballot, says Advani 

• CNN-IBN debate: Homosexuality vs Indian morality 

• Watch: Parties react to HC judgement on gays 

• Railways fail to provide basic facilities to passengers 

• Michael Jackson to be buried without his brain 

• Scrap EVMs, let's go back to ballot, says Advani 

• Shiney denies he had sex with domestic help 

• British spy chief's cover blown on Facebook 

• British Islamic group plans coup in Pakistan: report 

• Youth shot dead by cops had 26 injury marks 

• Kargil victory was certain: ex-army chief 

• Varun fears threat to life; Maneka slams Govt 

• Kambakkht Ishq is not vulgar or offensive: Akshay 

• No minister contacted Madras HC judge: CJI 

Photogallery

Find us on Facebook | Join IBNLive community

Stay ahead with G-Talk Buddy | Click now!

New 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)