Nirmala Carvalho

Arun Ferreira spent four years in prison on false charges: he was tortured and learned about the terrible reality of the judicial system. He tells AsiaNews: "Francis powerfully told the truth, making it clear that life imprisonment is a death sentence in disguise. Hopefully his words will give strength to the Indian Church, which must address the issue of reform of the judicial system."

The President of the Office for Inter-religious Dialogue and Ecumenism of the Indian Catholic Bishops Conference, Msgr. Felix Machado, speaks to AsiaNews about the Vatican’s message for the Hindu festival of Diwali: "We must not ignore the differences that separate us, but understand them and accept them. In the footsteps of Pope Francis, we must strive for the common good".

In conjunction with the Synod on the Family, the Church in Mumbai organised a conference on 'Protecting, Preserving and Promoting the Gift of Human Life: Emerging Challenges'. "It is sad to see that many people today think they do not need God in their lives," says Mumbai archbishop. "The traditional family has deep roots" in India, but "the country's rapid industrialisation" creates challenges that must be met right away, says a professor of moral theology.

The report by Judge BK Somasekhar exonerated Hindu radicals, despite overwhelming evidence and testimonies against them. For Christian leader, it "is good news, which we hope will soon bring justice and reparations to the victims". During their attacks, fundamentalists destroyed more than 20 churches and Christian places of worship.

The Interior Minister has criticized the school model introduced by the British and still in force today. Preferable to the only "Indian culture and its model of values" for the development of young people. In Gujarat the current Prime Minister of India had imposed textbooks of a radical Hindu intellectual. Catholic Bishop: "History is about facts, and facts must not be distorted."

The president of the Global Council of Indian Christians hopes that this recognition will bring justice to the little victims of the 2008 pogroms in Odisha (Orissa). Dalit activist Lenin Raghuvanshi speaks about his friend Kailash Satyarthi.

The couple decided to keep the baby girl on gender grounds because they already have a boy. The case, which dates back to 2012, came to light now after a judge revealed the story. For Catholic doctor in Mumbai, "children's rights are almost never taken into account". The case is similar to that of "baby Gammy", a boy born from a surrogate mother who was rejected by his biological parents because he has Down.

Decision comes after pressure from Hindu radicals, to protest marriage between a Christian boy and a Hindu girl. Although the couple was tracked down and separated, the event still canceled.

The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) warns the phenomenon is spreading in Karnataka. The Hindu radicals are asking the government (close to them) to impose a ban on the slaughter of cattle throughout the country.

The victims were working with the cattle, perhaps illegally. The attackers, some twenty in all, beat the men with knives and sticks. So far police have arrested only one person.

The aim is to improve the sanitary conditions of the Indian people, providing toilets and services to schools and homes. For pro-Dalit activist Raghuvanshi, the campaign is a boost to the fight against the caste system. However, he opposes plans to turn the Ganges River into a fluvial highway for goods.

In Vadodara, police arrest 140 people following sectarian clashes sparked by anti-Islamic pictured posted on Facebook. Gujarat has a dismal record when it comes to sectarian violence. For the bishop of Pune, all religions have contributed to nation-building.