'Won't tolerate any discrimination', Rajnath assures Christian community leaders

In the wake of the recent attacks on churches in the national capital, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday assured a delegation from the Christian community that the Centre would never tolerate any discrimination in the name of caste, colour, language or religion.

The Home Minister took to twitter to disclose about the meeting between him and the group of leaders from Christian community, who called on him earlier today.

"Met with a group of leaders from Christian community today who were concerned over the reports of attacks on churches," tweeted Rajnath.

"I assured them that the present dispensation would never tolerate any discrimination in the name of caste, colour, language or religion," he added.

The Home Minister's Office also took to twitter and disclosed details of the meeting.

"The group gave a memorandum to the HM demanding security for Christians and their places of worship," Home Minister's Office tweeted.

"The HM instructed the Delhi CP to make proper arrangements for the security of churches and other places of worship. HM also instructed the authorities to conduct impartial inquiry into the recent reports of 'attacks on churches' in Delhi," it said in a series of tweets.

Meanwhile, Father Dominic, the spokesperson of Delhi Catholic Archdiocese, also briefed about the meeting.

"We complained to the Home Minister not only so about the protest but we told him how within less than two months, more than five attacks on different churches have taken place in Delhi, right under the nose of the Home Minister and Prime Minister. What is the meaning of all these things?" said Father Dominic told ANI.

He also expressed grave concern over agitators being detained by the police.

"Today when we are just peacefully protesting in our own premises in the church, they have come and taken people by force and they have done lot of insulting. They have mishandled women, nun and personally me; they really dragged me and took me away. So, that is all absolutely wrong, illegal," he said.

Father Dominic further said that they have demanded greater security.

"And particular demand was that at St. Alphonsa's Church, the FIR should not be restricted only to theft and robbery case but they should also include code 153 as well as 295 and 295A," he said.

"He (Rajnath Singh), in front of us, spoke to the Commissioner and has assured us that he will take care that such things don't happen again," he added.

Since December 2014, five churches in the national capital have been attacked .

St. Alphonse Church in Vasant Kunj area was the latest one to be vandalised and desecrated by unknown persons on February 2.