Karan Singh decries communal violence

Condemning the attacks on churches in Orissa and Karnataka, senior Cong leader Karan Singh strongly described them as a disgrace to any religion and sought stern measures by the Centre against those responsible.

Condemning the attacks on churches in Orissa and Karnataka, senior Congress leader Karan Singh on Friday strongly described them as a disgrace to any religion and sought stern measures by the Centre against those responsible.

HT Image

Singh, who is also chairman of 'Temple of Understanding' -- an international interfaith organisation -- said the Centre and the state governments should quell such activities with strong measures and bring the guilty to book.

"On behalf of the Temple of Understanding and on my own behalf, I strongly condemn the recent incidents of violence by organisations that claim a Muslim or Hindu name but act in a barbaric fashion," Singh said in a statement.

"Attacks upon defenceless churches, burning and raping are a disgrace to religion that prides itself on its history of tolerance and non-violence," Singh said without naming any outfit.

He also appealed to all right-thinking citizens to condemn such activities.

"We fervently appeal to all right-thinking citizens, regardless of their religious or caste affiliations to rally in condemning all such activities that sully the fair name of Indian culture and bring our great civilisation into disrepute around the world," he said.

Nearly 35 people have died in the violence in Kandhamal district of Orissa that followed the brutal murder of VHP leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati on August 23.

Incidents of violence also took place in Karnataka where several churches were attacked.