Attacks on churches 'absolutely ridiculous': Col. Rathore

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Friday termed the recent attacks on churches as the work of 'fringe groups with vested interests'.

"The attacks on churches and on schools run by certain religious [institutions] are absolutely ridiculous. It is absolutely unacceptable for any sane society. Some of these are being termed as the acts of the government. That itself is ridiculous," Colonel Rathore told the media.

"There are certain fringe elements, from whichever religion, perhaps with vested interests, but whatever it is, the Delhi Police has to get to the bottom of it and catch the perpetrators and prevent such acts in the future," he added.

With respect to the recent controversy surrounding stand-up comic act 'AIB', which saw an FIR being filed against several Bollywood celebrities, Colonel Rathore denied any involvement by the government.

"My ministry has nothing to do with the AIB controversy. If it comes on television, then we shall act on it but as long as it is online, it is beyond the scope of my ministry. Certain people being named and others left out - this has not been done by the government," he said.

"A private citizen has gone and named some people in the FIR; perhaps there will be somebody else who will name some other people," he added.

On Thursday night, the Holy Child Auxilium School in the Vasant Vihar area of the national capital became the latest Christian institution to be vandalised in the city, taking the total number of attacks to six since December.

HRD Minister Smriti Irani, who is also an alumnus of the institution, also paid a visit to the school today.