The Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue took part in a meeting in London organised jointly with leaders of the local Hindu community. Following in the footsteps of Cardinal Tauran, he visited the Neasden Temple in the north-west of the British capital. “Let us not give up when progress towards peace is slow.”
In Madhya Pradesh a misunderstanding during a school lesson is exploited by Hindutva group to attack school run by the Sisters of Sain t Elizabeth. Bishop Athikalam slams the shameful violence against women who have been serving the community for 50 years, “working towards nation-building.”
The government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has revoked a rule in place since 1966 that prevented civil servants from being members of the RSS, a paramilitary group that promotes the Hindutva ideology. Originally, the ban also prevented membership in the Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamist organisation, but the latter is not mentioned in the ban revocation. INC members speak out against the government’s decision.
The vice president, who is now running for the White House after Joe Biden bowed out, has never shied away from her roots in Tamil Nadu. Meeting Modi last year, she said that she got her passion for democracy from her grandfather in Chennai. The very story of her mother Shyamala Gopalan epitomises the rise of the Indian-American community in the country. And Usha Chilukuri Vance, the wife of the Republican vice-presidential candidate, is also of Indian origin, from the state of Andhra Pradesh.
For almost two months a priest, a Protestant bishop, and some principals have been in prison on charges of collecting exorbitant school fees. The increase was calculated on the first COVID-19 year, when prices had been reduced by order of local authorities. “We've done nothing in mala fide,” said Bishop Arasu speaking to AsiaNews. “We're willing even to approach the Supreme Court.”
The decision was taken to support Pakistan and is linked to geopolitical and trade factors. The sensitive news is found in minutes of a recent meeting at the Foreign Affairs Committee. The number two of the defence industry agency told the committee that no sales are allowed if the buyer is based in or is linked to India.
Today's news: Beijing breaks off talks with the US on nuclear arms control in Taiwan. The Knesset rejects the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry on 7 October, satisfied Netanyahu. Japanese PM apologised to victims of forced sterilisation. Indian economy has the fastest growth rate among emerging nations.
Today's news: Police in Laos rescue 17 girls (as young as 10) from sex slavery for Chinese tourists; UN report denounces "institutionalized" forced labor in North Korea; Six Vietnamese men poisoned in a Bangkok hotel room; Recruitment among ultra-Orthodox begins next week, clashes in Tel Aviv; Hindu group offers prayer for Trump's "health" after attack.
Four were arrested Friday in a village following reports by the Hindu organisations Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang DalPer. Due to the presence of anti-conversion laws, Christians suffer continuous intimidation in India. Bishop Gerald Mathias of Lucknow: "Innocent people languish in prisons. It is unacceptable".
The Archbishop of Mumbai, who represents Asia in the Council of Cardinals wanted by Pope Francis, comments on the Instrumentum laboris in view of the October Assembly released these days. "We need to discuss how to give women their rightful role, involving them more in decision-making processes in the Church. Being inclusive, welcoming everyone, does not mean changing what the Gospel teaches."
Yesterday the prime minister received a delegation led by the president of the Bishops' Conference (Cbci). In the letter, besides the ritual congratulations for the new mandate, all the concerns for Christians from the attacks in Manipur to the quota issue. Among the topics also Pope Francis' visit to India.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs announced the repatriation of Indian nationals fighting in Ukraine after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Russia. Attracted by high salaries, the possibility of obtaining Russian citizenship, and traveling to countries in Europe’s Schengen area, hundreds of South Asian men have embarked on the journey to Russia. In many cases, they did so without knowing that they would be sent to the front.
The Supreme Court ordered the northeastern Indian state to decide within six weeks. Dara Singh was given life imprisonment for the murder of Australian pastor Graham Staines and his two sons aged 10 and six. In his petition he says he has "repented", but for Christian representatives, the court’s decision “is really disturbing” for the community.
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