Singh side stepped delegation's demand to have a judicial inquiry conducted by a retired high court judge into the incidents of attacks on 5 churches, saying that he would look into it, if they were not satisfied with the probe by the special investigation team (SIT).
On the face of it, it augurs that union home minister Rajnath Singh has taken a stern view of attacks on churches by giving strong instructions to the Delhi police but for the Christian leaders a large portion of their charter of demands was put aside by him in Thursday's meeting.
After meeting the delegation of Christian leaders on Thursday, Singh said the government would not tolerate any discrimination on the basis of caste and religion and directed the Delhi police to ensure security of churches and other places of worship.
He also conveyed that an order has been issued for conducting an impartial inquiry into the recent incidents of alleged attacks on churches in the national capital.
However, according to A C Michael, former member of the National Commission for Minorities, the union home minister refused to entertain their proposal for fixing a meeting of top leaders of the Christian community with the top BJP brass led by Amit Shah to sort out the issue for once and for all.
"The union home minister was very cordial and listened to us with due diligence but refused our proposal to arrange a meeting with the BJP leadership to sort out the issue of increase in attacks on churches whenever BJP comes to power. He said, "You have already spoken to number 2 in the government which is enough," said Michael.
Community leader John Dayal said following their demand, the home minister has directed the police to insert certain provisions of the Indian Penal Code like "provocation with intent to cause riot, hurting religious sentiment" etc in the FIR, in cases of alleged desecration of churches.
"Police has done nothing and they have described the incidents as simple theft, burglary and trespassing. We told the home minister that these were not simple incidents but attack on our religious places," Dayal said.
The delegation also demanded the home minister to issue public statement of concern which he may issue after the re4sult of Delhi assembly elections on February 10.
Singh also side stepped delegation's demand to have a judicial inquiry conducted by a retired high court judge into the incidents of attacks on 5 churches, saying that he would look into it, if they were not satisfied with the probe by the special investigation team (SIT).
The delegation leaders said seeing the track record of previous SIT that was constituted to look into desecration of Dilshad Garden church on December 2 that has not submitted its report yet, they don't have much hope but would wait for Singh's promise to deliver.
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