Christians begin protest march over Wadhwa report

CALCUTTA, AUG 22: Lord, you died for us, we will die for you,'' read the slogan on one of the two Arks which are accompanying a group o...

CALCUTTA, AUG 22: 8220;Lord, you died for us, we will die for you,8221; read the slogan on one of the two Arks which are accompanying a group of over 200 men and women who began a nine-day march to Andhra Pradesh here on Saturday to spread the message of love, peace and communal harmony8217; and to tell the nation about their disappointment over the Wadhwa Commission Report that probed the killings of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons in Baripada in Orissa.

8220;We cannot accept the report which gave a clean chit to fundamentalist forces involved in the killings, instead we demand a CBI probe into the incident,8221; said Herod Mullick, the general secretary of the Bangiya Christiya Pariseba BCP which jointly organised the campaign with the Christian Human Rights Ministry CHRM and the United Christian Forum, Orissa.

Incidentally, the two Arks 8212; one dedicated in the memory of all Christian martyrs, especially Graham Staines and his sons and another in memory of all who laid down their lives forthe welfare of the human race 8212; will be joining the mega rally at Hyderabad on August 30.

The marchers, who will stop at several places in Orissa before finally joining a mega rally8217; at Hyderabad on 30th, will reach Baripada on Sunday to pay their homage to martyrs, Graham Staines and his two sons, Philip and Timothy killed early this year.

The marchers, who began their campaign from the statue of Mahatma Gandhi here on Saturday at the juncture of Mayo and Duffrin Road, also gave a call to the 8220;all secular-minded people to elect a secular government which can uphold the secular values of the nation and protect the rights of minorities, particularly, Christians who became a target for the fundamentalist forces for the last 15 months.8221;

When asked by giving a call to the people to elect a secular government8217; are you not politicising the peace and communal harmony campaign,8217; Mullick told this reporter 8220;No way, we are just seeking protection to our rights as Indians.8221;

However, Reverend T DayanandaRao of the CHRM felt that 8220;it would be very difficult for us to distinguish between what is political and apolitical at this stage for we fear if the fundamentalist forces return to power, we will be threatened again.8221;

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8220;If the organisations like, Vishwa Hindu Parishad can openly distribute religious books in their functions to garner religious sentiments, we are merely trying to tell the people to uphold love, peace and communal harmony enshrined in our Constitution and about our fear,8221; Reverend Rao stated.