Crimes against minorities issue raised in Lok Sabha

New Delhi, March 17 (IANS) Opposition parties, led by the Congress, on Tuesday raised in the Lok Sabha the issue of crimes against minorities, especially the attack on a church in Haryana and the alleged gang rape of a nun in West bedngal.

"Persons holding constitutional posts are making remarks which are deliberately wounding people. In Hissar, a religious place has been attacked and the chief minister has said the religious place lacked valid papers," Congress member Gaurav Gogoi said.

"This does not seem to be an isolated incident. Such kind of statements are being made again and again," he added.

Incidents in West Bengal and Assam are very threatening. A large population of the country is living in fear, he said, adding that a former police commissioner of Mumbai has expressed fear for minorities.

"Is this right? It is the responsibility of the home ministry to ensure peace."

P. Venugopal of the AIADMK said: "Our party stands for upholding communal harmony. India is a secular country. People should stop glorifying one religion."

Another Congress member, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary, raised the issue of the alleged gang rape of a 71-year-old nun in West Bengal.

CPI-M's Mohammed Salim said despite assurances given by the state administration in West Bengal, no arrests have been made even 72 hours after the nun's gang rape.

Trinamool Congress member Saugata Roy said though he condemned the incidents, it was the "present communal atmosphere of the country which is leading to such attacks".

The opposition tried to raise the matter during question hour also, but the speaker disallowed it.

In Haryana, an under construction church in Kaimri village in Hisar district was vandalised by miscreants some ten days back (and reported on Sunday) and the idol of Hindu deity Hanuman was placed inside the premises.

A few days later, a septuagenarian nun was gang raped in West Bengal.