Christians hold peace march in Chandigarh

Several people from Christian community held a peace march in the city to express solidarity and oneness with persecuted community members in Orissa and Karnataka.

Several people from Christian community drawn from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh on Thursday held a peace march in the city to express solidarity and oneness with persecuted community members in Orissa and Karnataka.

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'Christian peace rally', which passed through several areas of the city, was aimed at bringing awareness among the general public and respective authorities about the "atrocities" against the Christian community in the country, All India Christian Council Secretary General Dr John Dayal who led the march which culminated into a rally here said.

"The democratic fibre of the country is under threat if the Christian community is not protected," the council said in memoranda submitted to Punjab and Haryana Governors. They demanded immediate crackdown by the Government on religious fundamentalists in the country.

They demanded "effective compensation" to the next of kin of thosekilled in violence against community members in Orissa and Karnataka. Dr John said, "All anti-conversion law are an insult to the democratic tradition of the Country."

"No conversions are taking place," he said while adding that if any illegal or fraudulent conversion is taking place then the Government must act under the existing law of the land.

He said, "The Hindutava violence is more dangerous for the country as the community is in majority."