Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) staged a protest rally at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on 18 March
2008. Archbishop Vincent Concessao of Delhi Catholic Archdiocese inaugurated the protest rally urging the State and the Central Government to protect the rights of minorities and provide safety to the most neglected people of the society who are easy targets of the fundamentalist groups.
Arch Bishop MA Thomas from Emmanuel Mission inaugurated the indefinite fasting of Dr.Sajan George, President GCIC. Swami Agnivesh, leader of the Aryasmaj participated in the rally and condemned the rabid attaks launched by the Hindu fundamentalists on Orissa Christians.
Fr. Dominic Emmanuel, Spokesperson of Delhi Catholic Archdiocese in his address to the rally called for immediate action to provide adequate compensation to the victims of violence in the Kandhmal District of Orissa. Several other religious and political leaders addressed the rally and supported the demands put forward by the victims of violence who have traveled1300 Kms all the way from Kandhamal in Orissa to New Delhi to seek the intervention of the Central Government to get justice from the State Government which has been protecting the perpetrators of violence.
Around 150 victims of violence in Kandhamal District of Orissa participated in the Protst rally. According to Dr. Sajan George, President of GCIC, the Christian community is horrified by the inaction of the administration and the human rights violation that takes place goes unnoticed. Dr. Sajan George said that the government makes announcements and tall claims but the fact remains that Kandhamal is still on the boil and certain acts of the government following the Christmas 2007 violence have further empowered the powerful section of the Hindu fundamentalists to suppress and torment the minorities. Dr. George added that contrary to claims of the government that it had brought the situation under control within four days of the violence and relief as well as rehabilitation measures are in full swing, the affected families continue to be tormented a lot. The Victims of violence from Orissa held four days (18-21, March 2008) of protest rally in Delhi on round the clock and have submitted a memorandum to the President of India, Prime Minister of India and the Home Minister to act on the following demands of the Christian community.
· Uphold the Constitutional Rights of all Indian citizens especially the Christian Minority.
· Dismiss the Orissa Government for failure to protect minorities.
· Institute a CBI (Central Beaureo of Investigation) enquiry into the Christmas week violence against Christians.
· Stop Balkanisation of India on the basis or religion and community.
· Arrest Laxmananda Saraswati for inciting attacks against Christians.
· Address issue of starvation deaths in Kandhamal refugee camps.
· Stop the continued persecution of Christians by the police and in the relief camps in Kandhmal.
· Stop filing false cases against Christian victims of violence.
· Allow NGOs and civil society groups to provide relief services to the inmates of the refujee camps in Kandamal.
· Ensure immediate rehabilitation of all the victims of the violence
Compensation: Rebuild 800 houses and 104 Churches and 80 other institutions.
· Restore Good Friday a Holiday in Banks and other public sectors
· Protect the lands and livelihoods of the displaced victims of violence and provide employment opportunities to the displaced people.
· Call upon the National Commission of Women to look into atrocities against women victims in Kandhamal violence.
· Ban the Hindu fundamentalist and terrorist outfits like the RSS and VHP.
· Restore Freedom of