This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-31499978
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Narendra Modi: India PM warns against religious attacks | Narendra Modi: India PM warns against religious attacks |
(about 5 hours later) | |
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to protect all religious groups after a string of attacks on churches in Delhi. | India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to protect all religious groups after a string of attacks on churches in Delhi. |
Addressing a Christian audience in the capital, he called on all religious groups to show restraint and respect. | Addressing a Christian audience in the capital, he called on all religious groups to show restraint and respect. |
Since December, five churches have been attacked, but this is the first time Mr Modi has commented on the issue. | Since December, five churches have been attacked, but this is the first time Mr Modi has commented on the issue. |
Critics say his Hindu nationalist BJP government is not doing enough to stop Hindu zealots targeting minorities. | Critics say his Hindu nationalist BJP government is not doing enough to stop Hindu zealots targeting minorities. |
Religious strife | |
2 Dec 2014: Hundreds of Christians protest in Delhi after St Sebastian's Church is badly damaged in a fire | |
4 Dec: Minister Niranjan Jyoti uses an abusive term to refer to non-Hindus at a rally in Delhi | |
8 Dec: More than 50 Muslim families reportedly converted to Hinduism against their will in the town of Agra | |
7 Jan 2015: BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj sparks outrage by urging Hindu women to have at least four children "in order to protect the Hindu religion". | |
14 Jan: Church vandalised in West Delhi's Vikaspuri area | |
2 Feb: Church vandalised five days before Delhi assembly elections in Vasant Kunj area | |
Mr Modi has also been blamed for not doing enough to stop the 2002 anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat when he was the state's chief minister. | Mr Modi has also been blamed for not doing enough to stop the 2002 anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat when he was the state's chief minister. |
More than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in the violence, which were sparked by a fire on a train at Godhra in Gujarat that killed 59 Hindu pilgrims. | More than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in the violence, which were sparked by a fire on a train at Godhra in Gujarat that killed 59 Hindu pilgrims. |
Mr Modi has denied any wrongdoing and Indian courts have cleared him of all charges. | Mr Modi has denied any wrongdoing and Indian courts have cleared him of all charges. |
"I condemn violence against any religion. We will act strongly against such violence," Mr Modi said at a conference organised by Christian groups in Delhi on Tuesday. | "I condemn violence against any religion. We will act strongly against such violence," Mr Modi said at a conference organised by Christian groups in Delhi on Tuesday. |
"My government will not allow any group belonging to majority or minority to incite hatred against other communities." | "My government will not allow any group belonging to majority or minority to incite hatred against other communities." |
Mr Modi also said that "everyone has the undeniable right to retain or adopt the religion of his or her choice without coercion or undue influence". | Mr Modi also said that "everyone has the undeniable right to retain or adopt the religion of his or her choice without coercion or undue influence". |
Christian groups accuse hard-line Hindu groups, emboldened by Mr Modi's landslide in last year's general election, of carrying out the recent attacks, but police say there is little evidence for this. | |
They say they have provided security to more than 200 churches in the capital. | They say they have provided security to more than 200 churches in the capital. |
Previous version
1
Next version