NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTION 99
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

Goan Church blasts minorities commission

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panjim

The Goan Church has called the National Commission for Minorities "a hand-maiden of the government".

This is in response to a report by NCM member John Joseph to the prime minister's office alleging that the Church is creating communal tension and political instability by raising environmental issues regarding the controversial Meta Strips project.

A press note released by the Diocesan Centre for Social Communications Media, however, states, "It appears that this is not an official NCM report." It alleges that Joseph acted as an agent of Meta Strips Limited and that the company had picked up the tab for his stay in Goa in March.

The Church also attacked the commission for "giving a clean chit to the Sangh Parivar, whose members are attacking and destroying the property of Christians with the covert support of those in power".

"The NCM concluded that these were unconnected acts by petty criminals," states Father Carmo Martins, the Church spokesperson in Panjim.

According to Fr Martins, the report is not surprising because Joseph belongs to the Pentecostal Church in India, which has very few followers, but received plenty of aid from Dr Sitaram Jindal, chairman and managing director of the Jindal Group, which is also promoting the Rs 3 billion project.

"Reverend K T Thomas, president of the Indian Pentecostal Church of Goa, had written to the archbishop of Goa about Jindal's charitable and social work," said Fr Martins.

The Church alleges that by helping Christian organisations, MSL is trying to obtain public approval for their 'hazardous' project.

The Church has also been leading a year-long agitation against a copper-processing plant owned by Dr Jindal's son-in-law, Sushil Khaitan.

Church sources also allege that threats were issued that Dr Jindal was capable of taking the matter up at a national level through various fora, anti-Christian organisations and even in Parliament.

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report