The person behind these documents, the archbishop alleged, was a former government official. "He knows the law, he has been making provocative speeches and writing all kinds of false reports, maligning the Christian community."
This official and others like him, the archbishop charged, continue to "accuse us, because they have to justify the lakhs of rupees of damage and the murder of 70 people at least. The Christians have to be the scapegoat as the Hindutva forces are not interested in the truth and so they fabricate stories."
Asked if he was disappointed with the central government's response, Archbishop Cheenath said, "When (French President) Nicholas Sarkozy asked him why Christians were being persecuted in India, (Prime Minister) Manmohan Singh finally apologised for this 'national shame.'
"Since then, the British parliament also made some comments -- they condemned this violence -- and in fact, from the European parliament, five of them had come, but they were not allowed to go and see the places in Orissa where the attacks took place citing security reasons," he added.
Image: A security officer stands guard outside the ashram where Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Lakshmananda was killed. Photograph: Parth Sanyal/Reuters.
Also see: What is wrong in Kandhamal?
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