ICV protests omission of Christians from Assocham meet

The Indian Christian Voice on Monday protested what it terms "a deliberate insult" to the Christians by apex trade body Assocham that failed to include any speaker from the community for its two-day seminar opening in New Delhi on Tuesday.

ICV President Abraham Mathai claimed that the business body invited delegates of all religions -- except Christianity -- to address its seminar on 'Sach Bharat.'

He pointed out that as per media advertisements, Assocham has invited Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi and religious leaders from various communities for its meet.

"While Assocham did not consider it prudent to invite any Christian religious leader, ICV reminds them that the world owes a lot to the Christian faith. The messages of speaking the truth always and non-violence, as propagated by Mahatma Gandhi, were first spoken by Jesus Christ," Mathai observed.

He wondered how Assocham could host the event titled 'Sach Bharat' when the faith which stresses on truth at all times is not even invited for the gathering.

The ICV is particularly irked by the fact that several central ministers are attending the event, but none of them bothered to check the guest list and find out that representation of Christians at the seminar is nil.

"Had they actually bothered to do a fair bit of research as is required of them, our sitting ministers would realise that attending such a religious talk on eve of Christmas, without even inviting Christian leaders is nothing short of insult and provocation," Mathai said.

He called upon Assocham and the gathering to spend time discussing about 'Ek Bharat' (One India) because Christians are also Indians and attempts like this to make them feel 'unwelcome' in their own motherland would not be tolerated.