Kandhamal Priest Conferred National Minority Day Award
New Delhi: Fr. Ajay Kumar Singh, a human right activist from Kandhamal, was conferred the National Minority Right Day Award by the National Commission for Minorities, June 5, Minority Right Day, at Vigyan Bhavan by the former Lok Sabha Speaker Mr. Somnath Chatterjee.
Fr. Ajay Singh has been conferred this award with a cash money of rupees two lakhs and a citation, in recognition of his service to defend the rights of the Christian minority in the Kandhamal district of Orissa.
It is to be noted that first in 2007 December and again in August 2008 after the killing of Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati by the Maoists, the Christian community was made the target of violence in which nearly 100 people died, about 48, 000 people made homeless and more than 170 Christian institutions were completely or partially destroyed. In addition women were raped, including a religious consecrated nun. The violence was unleashed by the Sangh Parivar after they accused the missionaries for the killing of the Swami, despite the Police reporting it otherwise.
Fr. Ajay Singh along with activists like Dr. John Dayal have been working hard to restore confidence in the local Christian community on the one hand and bring the culprits to books on the other. Despite threats to his life, Fr. Singh has been carrying out his work to defend the rights of the Christian community undeterred.
While conferring the award Mr. Somnath Chatterjee emphasized the fact of the age old Indian tradition of different religions living in peace and harmony and how our Constitution guarantees the rights of every citizen, including the minorities in the country. He suggested that there be a Parliamentary Committee to oversee the situation of religious minorities on the pattern of the Committee on Scheduled Castes. He said it was time for India to have a Equal Opportunities Commission Dr. Wajaht Habibulla, the Chairman of the NCM had earlier stated the value of such an award and how it was important that persons like Fr. Singh be recognized for their services to society.
Archbishop Anil Couto of Delhi, while congratulating Fr. Singh has appealed to all the minorities of the country not to be afraid to voice their concerns in public and especially asked the Christian community to continue to work towards peace, harmony and development of our dear motherland.
Fr. Dominic Emmanuel SVD