NCM team blames MP, Chhattisgarh admn for assault on Christians

New Delhi, June 19 (UNI) The National Commission for Minorities, which investigated into complaints of atrocities on the Christian community in BJP-ruled states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, has found that there was total failure of the administration in protecting the life, property and religious rights of the minority community.

''The Bajrang Dal, Dharam dal and VHP activists who were indulging in frequent attacks on Christians were not being arrested,'' member of the NCM Team, which visited the two states, Harcharan Josh, told UNI.

He said he will submit his report to the Prime Minister on June 22.

''Police was a silent spectator to the assault and harassment of the Christian community. The government inaction was highly unfortunate. We are going to report to Prime Minister everything,'' said Mr Josh who visited the two states for five days along with another NCM member Chosphel Zotpa.

He said both the states have anti-conversion laws, so if any case of forceful conversion comes to light, the law should take its course.

''But what was happening in the two states was that the administration had totally allowed organisations like the Bajrang Dal and the Dharam dal to deal with the accused in their own way, which was a very dangerous trend,'' said Mr Josh.

What happened in Pathal village in Jaspur district of Chhattisgrah was still more unfortunate. There Christian women were arrested by policemen and kept in the police station in their custody for the night, which was totally against Supreme Court ruling on female detenues, he said.

The NCM member said he also took up with the Madhya Pradesh government the issue of delay in payment of compensation to victims of 1984 riots, as announced by the Prime Minister, and asked the Chief Secretary to expedite the matter.

UNI NAZ LR KN1627