Nirmala Carvalho

The incident happened in Bangalore on June 5. Hindu radicals campaign against the law intended by the government to curb sectarian violence. The President of the Global Council of Indian Christians: "We are treated like second class citizens."

Members of the BJP and the Sangh Parivar organize a nonviolent protest to defend Baba Ramdev and his followers, attacked by police. Lenin Raghuvanshi, an activist for human rights, criticizes the guru because he avoids dealing with the real problems of society, not to lose the support of radical Hindu groups.

So says Father Paul Thelakat, spokesman for the Syro-Malabar Church. For him, the book gives its own interpretation of many historical facts. But "in a democratic, secular country with its multiplicity of religious and other differences," this should not happen because "the future of the generation depends on education."

In the 2011-2012 budget, 50 crore rupees (about 7.7 million euro) will be invested for the reconstruction of churches, community development programs, scholarships, micro-credit. But the Archbishop of Bangalore says: "Christians want justice, not money."

After the historic defeat of the Communist Party in the last elections, expectations and hopes of the poor and marginalized are high, but for Jesuit Father Jothi SJ, the new government must move beyond the big talk and focus on "education, health and entitlements on a priority basis" for his people.

The rehabilitation community is located in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, Bandra. Founded in 1983, the centre now accommodates 75 men Christians, Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs. Without any discrimination of caste or faith, in devotion to Our Lady all have found a life full of dignity, simplicity and serenity.

Monk’s whereabouts are unknown. Police have occupied his monastery for more than a month, forcing monks to undergo “patriotic re-education”. Anyone who resists is removed.

According to the Scheduled Castes Order, only Dalit Hindus and Buddhists can enjoy the rights provided for their status. Christians and Muslims loose all rights, including the right to political representation. But even within Christianity, non Dalits alienate their outcast brothers and sisters.

The National Advisory Council approves a draft bill that would enable the central government to intervene in cases of communal violence. Parliament is expected to vote on the bill on Saturday. The “proposed legislation that purports to makes the executive more accountable and the judiciary prompt will act as a strong deterrent for those thriving on fomenting communal violence, particularly in the name of religion, caste and language,” the Bishops’ spokesman says.

The new Prime Minister (Kalon Tripa) of the Tibetan government-in-exile speaks about his entry into politics and the challenges he is ready to meet. Here is an exclusive interview with AsiaNews.

Samdhong Rinpoche, the former prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, slams China for its “continuous and repetitive insults against the Dalai Lama and our political system,” which “shows how scared Beijing is about democracy”.

5 years in jail for arson of a village and disorders. For the Global Council of Indian Christians, the situation of Christians is still "alarming". A Catholic priest runs a plan for the reconstruction of destroyed homes, also for Hindu victims.