Just four months after taking office, the BJP-run state government announced a plan for a massive expansion of educational facilities linked to the Hindutva movement, in open competition with Christian and Islamic schools. Even the patriotic song "Vande Mataram" is becoming a source of controversy.
Government and rebels will meet on February 22 for talks aimed at strengthening a faltering ceasefire.
Three US Protestant missionaries were in India on a tourist visa, but Hindu extremists allege they were involved in proselytism. A change in government does not imply automatic changes in bureaucratic procedures and visa rules, which often penalise Indians as well, says All India Catholic Council chairman.
In Afghanistan, four people die in the worst incident. Tehran and Damascus are hit by "spontaneous" protests. In Jordan and Yemen, editors are arrested for printing some of the cartoons.
Yesterday RSS activists attacked two young Christians: they were distributing religious material in front of their local church. It is the fifth such attack in the state since January 25th.
The Secretary of India's episcopal conference remarks on the recent wave of violence against Christians in India: extremists don't know that God is love, something that would leave them dumbfounded. To advance their plans, they indoctrinate poor people with falsehoods. Catholic activist. "a dangerous pattern" passes also through Maharashtra and Rajasathan. Accusations against the BJP.
A Pime missionary in Tamil Nadu speaks of the many problems linked to government funding for reconstruction : people no longer have faith in the Government, yet to deliver promised housing. Their needs even greater than a year ago. Psychological trauma still a major factor in daily life: panic each time sea water nears camp tents.
A woman who is a victim of rape will no longer be condemned for adultery as under the old norm introduced in 1979. Peter Jacob: "An important verdict but we need a definitive solution to all discriminatory laws".
The resort town of Aldona is the scene of the act of vandalism. On a broken piece of the cross, someone wrote Mr Foreigner. "The cross is at the heart of our Christian faith. This act deeply hurts our religious feelings," says Fr Babu Joseph.
Picket lines go up and workers clash with police as controversial airport privatisation plan goes ahead.
In Sialkot District, unknown assailants attack a 70-year-old woman breaking her legs, and seriously injured another, ostensibly over land. This is taking place "because the government has failed to take measures," says the archbishop of Lahore.
Ahead of the February 4 festivities, the archbishop of Colombo tells the country that unity is needed to reach peace. The kidnapping of humanitarian workers in the eastern part of the country threatens the Geneva meeting, which is the last chance for a deal between the government and the Tamil Tiger rebels.
Archbishop of Lahore: "The media must commit to their role, otherwise we will loose the battle in education". Reports on religious freedom, press freedom and minority rights.
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