Protesters burn effigies of cardinal, political leaders in India

Published: 2007-02-01

RANCHI, India (CNS) -- Activists affiliated with radical Hindu groups burned effigies of a Catholic cardinal and political leaders during a rally protesting an Indian state's removal of a religious identification requirement on caste certificates. The Hindu tribal prayer council, Adivasi Prarthana Sabha, and others protested the Jharkhand state decision during late-January rallies in Ranchi and Chanho, 25 miles west of Ranchi, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency. Caste certificates are required for benefits such as free education and government jobs. The Indian Constitution guarantees the benefits to tribal people and members of the former untouchable caste. Critics of the decision argue that Cardinal Telesphore Toppo of Ranchi, the first tribal or indigenous cardinal from India, forced the state government to remove the religion identification, inserted in 2003 by the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.

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