Nirmala Carvalho

In the past few days in India schools have been at the centre of discussion. Bvs students have protested against Mumbai’s Catholic schools. In appearance their motivations are economic; the Bvs have in fact requested a lowering in fees. But Mumbai’s Archbishop maintains that the real reasons are religious, while the president of the Bcs says it may be political. The decision by St Stephen's College to admit Dalhit Christian’s has met with public outrage.

Clashes between the two ethnic tribes Meitei and Kuki result in deaths, widespread unrest and burnt homes. A curfew is imposed with the order to shoot on sight. Today a general strike blocks the state. Experts say that is a battle between armed groups for control of the drug and arms trade with nearby Myanmar.

The government of Andhra Pradesh issued a ban last Friday against religions other than Hinduism in Tirumala. Violators risk three years in jail, fines of up to 5,000 rupees, or both.

The Congregation for the cause of the Saints has announced the approval of sainthood for Alfonsa of the Immaculate Conception, the first saint who lived and died in India. Card. Vithayathil invites the faithful to follow her life’s example, renewing the call to sainthood of every human being.

Nationalist Congress Party and allies take the majority. But in order to govern they are in need of the support from small parties. The population demands that primary needs are addressed, in a nation where only those in power see the benefits of economic growth.

India invests heavily in primary education but little goes to Christian schools which are well represented in rural areas. Under-funding could lead to decline in rural education. Bishop of Mananthavady calls for subcommittees to raise funds.

Tribal Gujjars are in their fourth day of protest and continue blocking roads. Police have fired upon demonstrators as a solution continues to elude the government. Tribal Meenas warn that they will take to streets against the Gujjars. For experts the problem lies in affirmative action policies that do not take into account the needs of the poor.

A few days before state-wide elections Catholics are urged not to vote for candidates who foster sectarian tensions. Nationalists react by criticising Catholic “interference”.

The prelate who chairs the Indian Bishops’ Conference talks to AsiaNews about yesterday’s big rally by Christian groups against religious intolerance and warns that without religious freedom India will crumble.

Members of the United Liberation Front of Assam kill Rohini Gogoi, a teacher in a Hindi-language school. The group has been fighting for an independent Assam since 1979. In the last few months it has killed more than 70 Hindi-speaking migrants.

Yesterday evening three bombs exploded in the commercial area of Gorakhpur. Theories abound of Bjp involvement in their attempts to regain power following their defeat in recent elections in Uttar Pradesh.

Disturbances continue as a general strike shuts it down the Indian state today. Appeals by a DSS spokesman and Punjab’s chief minister for calm go unheeded. Police is deployed across the state.