Ajaya Kumar Singh

The National Commission on Religious and Linguistic Minorities has submitted to the Lok Sabha the proposed amendment of the law which for 59 years divides Dalits according to their religious affiliation. Is the first time that the issue is discussed by the parliament in New Delhi.

Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik says, “Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajarang Dal (BD) were involved in the violence”. Bishop Cheenath says, “Now we shall have to wait and see whether they will be brought to justice.”

Manoj Pradhan, the Bharatiya Janata Party is identified as one of the masterminds behind the anti-Christian pogrom of Kandhamal. He faces 14 charges. Fr. Dibakar Parichha, lawyer for the Christians in trials over Hindu violence: it is the "surrender of justice."

He was the right hand man of Swami Laxamananda Saraswati, whose murder sparked the violence against Christians in Orissa. The court has denied bail. He was involved in the attack on some Dalit Christians from the village of Malipara in July 2008, but police say that the detention is linked to extremist violence more than a year ago.

In his visit to the district most affected by Hindu violence, the Chief Minister never mentions the situation of Christians. Disappointment and anger among members of the community. "The state has forgotten us." Patnaik's behavior "reflects the typical attitude of the Orissa administration against Christians."

Manoj Pradhan, a member of the Hindu nationalist party and parliamentarian in Orissa, was acquitted of the murder of Kantheswar Digal, a 60-year-old Catholic from the village of Sankarakhole. During the trial eyewitnesses confirmed the allegations and Pradahn’s responsibility. The bishop of Bhubaneshwar, asks for trials to be transferred out of Orissa.