Nirmala Carvalho

False accusations mounted against young Christians as the aggressors go unpunished. The President of the Global Council of Indian Christians, Sajan K. George makes an appeal to the government: "You should take immediate steps to protect the lives and properties of the microscopic Christian community."

Isaac Samuel, who escaped a deadly attack on January 2, rejects the charges of inciting religious hatred and demands that the government allow him to pray in safety. He denounces police injustice against nomadic Christians.

Dr Ram Puniyani, a biomedical engineer and author of several books on religious tolerance and the dangers of fundamentalism in India, reacts positively to Benedict XVI’s speech to the diplomatic corps.

The Buddhist spiritual leader has repeatedly stressed his intention to withdraw from public life and take on a purely spiritual role. Today his people beg: "Democracy is your battle, do not leave us alone."

Samdhong Rinpoche, political head of the Tibetan Diaspora in India, speaks about the papal message for World Peace Day. He says Tibetans are saddened by anti-Christian violence, happy about a new meeting in Assisi.

For Fr. James Chennan, Vice Provincial of the Dominicans in Lahore, the country has lost a promoter of human rights, loved by minorities. Indian Christian leaders condemn Taseer’s murder, one of the few credible voices of Pakistan.

Isaac Samuel, hospitalized after an attempted murder with an ax, is accused of "promoting enmity on the basis of religion." Two of his assistants were arrested on the same charge. The Global Council of Indian Christians Denounces the collusion between police and Hindu extremists.

The attack took place yesterday evening at a prayer service in Davanagere. The victim was hit with a cleaver and was saved by a miracle. Hindu radicals 'anti-conversion' law behind the attack. "It 's an excuse for anti-Christian violence," says the chairman of the Global Council of Indian Christians, recalling the Pope's message on religious freedom.

Christians in Orissa, the scene of bloody pogroms in 2007 and 2008, celebrated the festive season in relative peace. Two episodes of tension: an attack on the local coordinator of the Council of Christians and the distribution of a blasphemous image.

Mother Teresa of Kolkata is an example to follow for she gave herself to the poorest among the poor. Christmas means God giving himself to humanity in a way that we could never have thought possible.

The Kui Samaj, a fundamentalist movement, has convoked a rally on Dec. 25 to "honor the memory” of one of its members who was injured while destroying a church and later died in unclear circumstances. Christians in India urge the authorities to intervene to prevent an announced massacre, similar to that of 2007.

The Madhya Pradesh priest was attacked in the middle of the night on 16 December by a dozen of men, armed with sticks. He barely got away alive. Years ago, a sister who was working about illiterate Tribals, was stabbed to death in the same area. Fr Thomas now prays for his attackers, that Christmas may bring “light to their hearts”.