European leaders meet Kandhamal riot victims

Envoys of five European countries on Monday interacted with victims of Kandhamal violence in Bhubaneshwar, Orissa.

The five-member delegation from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Finland met the victims of last year's violence at the Bishop House after they were denied permission to visit the riot-hit district.

Joseph Nayak from Kritangia village told the envoys that, though the violence had stopped, the last year's massacre had left a deep scar on the psyche of Christians. Nayak was among 10 victims selected to narrate their stories.

Runima Digal, who lost her husband during the August 2008 violence, apprised that the government compensation was insufficient to rebuild her house and educate her four children.

Following their meeting with the victims, the envoys met DGP Manmohan Praharaj and other senior cops at Cuttack to take stock of the law and order situation.

"We had a private discussion with the victims. We cannot share it with the public," said Denmark ambassador Aoulsen Ole Lonsmann.

Archbishop of Orissa Raphael Cheenath later told media that "the envoys were concerned and listened to the victims" who narrated their plight and sought for help.

The Christian leader lamented that although violence has stopped, people still continued to live in relief camps facing housing problems. Pointing that about half of the 50,000 people who fled Kandhamal are in want of houses, he pleaded the state government to act on the problem.

Last year, the persecution of Christians was a major topic discussed during the European Union (EU)–India Summit in Paris.

The EU delegation then led by President Nicolas Sarkozy of France condemned the violence and urged for strong steps to prevent such atrocities in future.

It was following this meeting that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh decried, such incidents were "acts of national shame".

He defended the country's secular credentials and said the constitution guarantees all citizens of India the right to profess and propagate a religion of their choice.