Nirmala Carvalho

In Madhya Pradesh a group of extremists attack a group if Christians. Three men are seriously wounded, but instead of opening an investigation into the incident, the police arrests the victims.

The new government of the southern state, composed of DMK democrats, has declared its intention to abolish the law punishing conversions as soon as possible; it is used only as a political instrument against minorities.

The proposal came from the country's largest associations of lay Catholics. "Only then will state governments show their good faith in threatening minorities with anti-conversion laws".

Community leaders view the prelate as the right man for the job. He has experience with the poor and is knowledgeable of other cultures. His nomination confirms India's place in the universal Church.

The State's religious minorities have welcomed the decision with "joy and gratitude", but Nationalist Hindus say: "She was obliged to sign the decree; this is an insult to democracy".

Mgr Paul Toppo will be installed as head of the diocese on 24 May. "I place myself under the patronage of St Michael and Mary, Help of Christians, to press ahead with my pastoral work."

After the speech of Celestino Migliore, permanent envoy of the Holy See to the United Nations, to the General Assembly, human rights activists talk to AsiaNews about the causes and effects of terrorism, a phenomenon that has not justification but can be stopped.

A spokesperson for the Indian Bishops' Conference says the 'Da Vinci Code' and 'Tickle my funny bone' should not be screened. Behind these movies there is a desire to project a false image of Catholics.

The country "is not on the list of countries of particular concern" but the situation there "is being controlled so it will not deteriorate". The Church "appreciates the warning" and urges "self-monitoring, which the Indian people are capable of".

This is the view of the chairperson of the state's Christian Forum. The intensified violence against our communities is alarming, the spokesman of the Bishops' Conference told AsiaNews. The anti-conversion law is the tool used by the administration to incriminate and molest us.

For three days now, in Vadodara, clashes between Muslims and police have raged after the demolition of a sacred place; six people have been killed. VHP Hindu extremists are fanning the flames. The bishop and human rights activists have condemned the local authorities, the forces of order and fundamentalists.

The attacks are the worst in recent years. Christian communities express their sorrow.