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CMs' meeting to discuss attacks on Christians: AFP

Home Minister L K Advani today said a meeting of chief ministers will be held in August to discuss the recent attacks on Christians. The meeting will be chaired by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Advani said the meeting would discuss important aspects of internal security, such as communal clashes, terrorism and the role of Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence in internal violence.

A meeting of security agencies and civil servants will be held on Wednesday to finalise an agenda for the chief ministers' meeting.

A series of attacks on Christians have heightened security concerns within the community, which constitutes just 2.5 percent of India's 1 billion population.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, which heads the ruling coalition, has been criticised by Chrisitian groups for not acting firmly enough to curb the violence.

During an audience with Pope John Paul II in Rome on Monday, Vajpayee promised that his government was taking "every possible step" to halt the attacks.

The BJP has strong ideological links with right-wing Hindu political and social groups which have been directly accused of inciting anti-Christian sentiment in India.

Asked whether the government would consider banning such right-wing organisations, Advani argued there could be "no justification" for such a move.

"But it is the government's responsibility that all minorities, whether Christians or Muslims, should feel secure," he added.

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