India's Prime Minister Vows to Stop Religious Conflict after Hindu-Christian Clashes

December 31, 2007

Author: Staff Writer

Source: AOL News

Wire Service: AP

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/indias-prime-minister-vows-to-stop/n20071231091509990007

India's prime minister has pledged to stem fighting between religious groups in the wake of Christian-Hindu violence that has left at least four people dead and hundreds of Christians seeking shelter in relief camps.

The violence, which occurred last week in a remote corner of Orissa state, broke out on Christmas Eve when long-standing tensions between the Hindu majority and the small Christian community erupted over conversions to Christianity.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in a letter dated Dec. 30 sent to the widow of a Christian missionary killed by Hindu hardliners in 1999, promised to uphold India's secular constitution and "safeguard the fundamental rights and liberties of all sections of our society."