The recent spate of attacks on churches in the national capital within a period of 3 months is condemnable. These acts of vandalism is a reflection of the hate campaign and false propaganda by hardline groups to break the religious harmony and social peace of the country.
These hardline groups are like cancer to society and every effort should be made to eradicate such groups to preserve the secular fabric of this great country. President Obama during his recent visit to India rightly said that India will succeed as long as it isn’t splintered along the lines of religion and every person has the right to practice any faith or none as he chooses without the fear of prosecution. Our nation will be strongest when we see all as equals.
Stringent laws should be put in place to deter such communal forces. One cannot understand as to why the Government is silent on this issue. Is silence a tacit form of approval for what is going on? Are we seeing achhe din as promised? The government on its part has failed to provide protection to minorities and their religious structures. Irreparable harm will be done if these hardline groups succeed in dividing people on religious lines and such acts are not nipped in the bud.
It is our sincere desire to see that our honourable Prime Minister comes out with a statement condemning these fringe groups. India would succeed a lot if not divided on the basis of religion. We feel confident that our Prime Minister will take India to new heights and all Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and all other minorities can all live happily as great branches of a majestic tree called India, the fruits of which our children and generations to come will enjoy.
My heart beats for India, let not religion divide this great country. Jai Hind.
Wenzel D’Mello, by email
—
Smart cities
Government is planning a dream project to build 100 smart cities. As the cities become smart, it is also necessary to plan for better towns and villages. When towns and villages are underdeveloped and where there are no proper educational institutions and hospitals and increasing unemployment, people tend to migrate towards cities for fulfilling these basic necessities. This has resulted in the imbalance of the system in the cities. Cities come under pressure due to over population. The decrease in population in towns and villages has also affected farming. Therefore, development of such places should be a priority.
Farheena Hussainy, Navelim
Stop desecrating churches
Since November 2014, five Christian places of worship have been vandalized in New Delhi. Whether or not it is an expression of hate campaign, the law enforcing agencies have been giving different versions.
A few days ago, the Catholic Bishops Conference of India had written a letter requesting the officials to safeguard the Christian places of worship and yet the authorities have done nothing. It is certainly disturbing to hear about these incidents. Whatever may be the reasons, the authorities need not give lame excuses and escape from their duty. They need to wake up from their slumber and curb such incidents.
Rui Pereira, Navelim
Are these achhe din?
In yet another instance of a ‘hate campaign’, the St Alphonsa’s Church in South Delhi was vandalized on Monday. While this has come as a shock, it was no surprise. If one can notice, there has been a systematic game plan over the last three months to attack the minorities particularly the Christians and to create a fear psychosis. Some rabid group is hell bent on destroying the social peace and religious harmony of our India.
And it is not only in Delhi, where the minorities are targeted. The notorious ‘ghar wapsi’ programme being carried out by over zealous ‘saffronites’ in various parts of the country points to a larger ‘mission’ of the party that is governing our country. It is sad to note that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not uttered a single word condemning the incidents in Delhi or other parts of the country.
Christians have contributed immensely to this great nation, be it in the field of education, health care and many other areas. Just because our religion teaches us non-violence, it does not mean we are weak. Even a minuscule minority must be heard and will be heard! It is time the Christians in Goa stand up in solidarity with the victims in other parts of the country and send a strong message to the government saying ‘enough is enough’ !
John-Paul Noronha, by email
