B’lore Archbishop thanks PM Modi for Christmas celebration, urges attention to community issues
Bengaluru: Archbishop Peter Machado, the head of the Archdiocese of Bangalore, expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Christmas celebrations held at the PM's residence in New Delhi with religious leaders of the Christian community. In an issued press release on Thursday, the Archbishop conveyed thanks on behalf of the entire Christian community while also urging the Prime Minister's attention to the escalating problems faced by the community, particularly in Manipur.
The Christmas celebrations for 2023 held special significance for Christians in India as Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended invitations to representatives of the Christian community, celebrating Christmas with them at his residence in New Delhi.
The Archbishop's press release highlighted the positive views expressed by the Prime Minister regarding the Christian community in India. Modi acknowledged the contributions of Christians to the Indian Independence Movement and commended the works undertaken by Christian institutions in education, health, and social service over the decades post-independence. The Prime Minister's emphasis on compassion and service, aligning with the teachings of the Lord, was appreciated by the Christian community leaders.
However, the press release also drew attention to the challenges faced by Indian Christians, including hate speeches, vandalization of churches and prayer halls, and the implementation of anti-conversion laws in several states. The Archbishop urged the Prime Minister's intervention through his office to prevent illegal activities against Christians and address the issues related to reservation for Dalit Christians.
The Archbishop specifically highlighted the situation in Manipur, where months-long violence has negatively impacted Christians in the state. The press release called on Prime Minister Modi to resolve the problems related to reservation for Dalit Christians by engaging with local leaders from the Christian community.
The Archbishop expressed the belief that Prime Minister Modi's response to the concerns of the Christian community would contribute to building an all-inclusive society guided by values of justice and selfless service. The press release concluded with gratitude for the invitation to celebrate Christmas and a humble request for positive responses to the challenges faced by the Christian community in India.
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Four booked for tying 18-year-old to tree, beating him up in UP's Pratapgarh
Pratapgarh (UP) (PTI): Four people were booked here for the abduction and assault of a man who they allegedly tied to a tree and beat up, police said on Wednesday.
The incident, a video of which has gone viral, took place on Tuesday afternoon under the Kunda police station limits.
The FIR was registered on Wednesday evening based on a complaint from the victim's father.
According to Keshav Prasad Yadav, a resident of Mauli village, some people called his 18-year-old son Nikhil Yadav on the phone and asked him to come out of his house around 2.30 pm on Tuesday.
As he reached outside the village as instructed, the accused allegedly forced him into a car and took him towards the Tinpedwa forest area, where they tied him to a tree and assaulted, the complainant said.
The attackers also recorded a video of the incident and circulated it on social media. The purported video shows the men thrashing Nikhil one after another, while one of them is assumed to have recorded the act.
Kunda Station House Officer Manoj Pandey confirmed the incident and said efforts are underway to identify and arrest all the accused.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has shared the video on social media, describing the incident as reflective of a "dominant mindset" against the PDA (Pichda or Backward, Dalit, and Alpasankhyak or Minority), and demanded strict action against the accused.
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