Nirmala Carvalho

Fr. Victor Edwin SJ , a native of Tamil Nadu like the victim, speaks to AsiaNews about Fr. Alexis Prem Kumar SJ and his work among the Sri Lankan refugees and the Dalits in South India. According to the Afghan police six armed men kidnapped the Jesuit, but no one has claimed responsibility, nor asked for ransom. The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS ) suspends operations in Afghanistan. The appeal of Fr. Alexis’ family.

In charge of media relations, Loyola College principal talks to AsiaNews about the case. The situation is described as "very sensitive" but no other statements have followed in this regard. Fr Alexis Kumar, 47, has been working in Afghanistan for four years.

Father Alexis Prem Kumar sj, chief of Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) was abducted today (Monday) afternoon by unidentified gunmen when he was on the way to a school. Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson confirmed the incident.

For a doctor and member of the Pontifical Academy for Life, the real battle is against “those norms that promote gender-based violence". In the last 40 years cases of rape have increased by 900 % . Auxiliary Bishop of Mumbai : "In the family both parents must inculcate the values of dignity, respect, honesty and morality in male and female children".

The teenagers - 13 and 15 - were found hanged from a tree. An autopsy confirmed the gang rape and death by strangulation. Five out of seven of the attackers arrested, including two policemen who had tried to cover the culprits. Auxiliary Bishop of Mumbai : "We need to educate men if we want to eliminate gender discrimination".

Vandals took advantage of the absence of the Catholic priests from the Congregation of the Holy Spirit who run Cristu Jyothi. The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) tells AsiaNews that such an act "offends the religious sentiments" of the community. Bishop Emeritus Mgr Beretta, PIME, had inaugurated the ashram.

Card Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Mumbai and president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India-Latin Rite, spoke to AsiaNews about the Church's hopes vis-à-vis the new government, which was sworn in today. For the first time in the history, a Pakistani prime minister attended the ceremony. For the latter, talks are the only solution to resolve outstanding issues. The new cabinet includes ultra-nationalist leader involved in the Ayodhya affair.

The BJP's victory should revive "the growth of the Indian economy" and "propel the stock markets to new heights". India's business community is delighted as China, the United States and the United Kingdom congratulate India's prime minister-elect.

The President of the Indian Bishops' Conference tells AsiaNews that cultural, ethnic and religious differences bind Indians "in a unique and rich spiritual and cultural heritage." For the bishop of Pune, the new government should "accept all communities" because "India's development, progress and the moral authority depends on how minorities are treated." Christian leader warns of fundamentalist tendencies in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its supporters.

This is how Sajan K. George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) comment AsiaNews, the exit poll that give the Bharatiya Janata Party (the Hindu nationalist BJP) close to victor . The activist denounces "an election campaign with an extreme fundamentalist stamp". The support of Indian tycoons.

In 2013, abortions rose by 10 per cent, with 30,117 operations performed in the 12-month period. Speaking to AsiaNews, Mumbai's auxiliary bishop said that "poverty, bias against girls and promiscuity" are the main cause. A member of the Pontifical Academy for Life slam the ease with which it is possible to get the morning after pill.

Albert D' Souza, former president of the Christian Chamber of Commerce, spoke to AsiaNews about his contribution to the business world, and that of the recently canonised pope that inspired it. In order to turn ethics into an economic model, the first step was to educate the new generations through professional schools.