Source: in.christiantoday.com
ORISSA, INDIA, October 12, 2009: Stating that it is erroneous to accuse Hindus for the 2008 Orissa violence, a local Christian group criticized a letter written by 21 lawmakers from U.S. to Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.The letter of 21 U.S. senators led by Mr. Trent Franks had condemned attacks on religious minorities and expressed concern over “Hindu extremists acting with impunity.”
The term “Hindu extremists” in the letter by the group of U.S. senators is “unfortunate”, says Swarupananda Patra, a Christian, president of the Orissa Minority Forum. Patra who feels that majority Hindu in India has been “supportive” and does not market violence.
[HPI note: As most HPI readers will remember, the episodes of violence began with the brutal murder of Swami Lakshmananda. Criminal investigations pointed to Maoists as perpetrators, though not necessarily architects, of the attack.]