wfn.org | Delhi Archbishop Welcomes Calling off Rath Yatra

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

"Fr. Dominic Emmanuel" <dominic@del3.vsnl.net.in>
Date: Thu, 4 Jul 2002 16:53:01 -0700

New Delhi, 4 July 2002

Archbishop Vincent M. Concessao of Delhi Archdiocese has welcomed the 
calling off of the Gaurav Rath Yatra in Gujarat which was to begin today 
July 4 in Ahemdabad.

Expressing his great joy at the Gaurav Rath Yatra being called off on the 
persuasion of the Prime Minister Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Archbishop 
Concessao said, we are indeed grateful to God and to the Prime Minister of 
India that our prayers have been answered and that better sense has 
prevailed among the leaders of our country. Such a Yatra was fraught with 
all the dangers of violence erupting again in Gujarat where situation is 
not yet fully normal .

In a congratulatory letter written to the new Deputy Prime Minister Mr. 
L.K. Advani on his being elevated to the post of the Deputy Prime Minister 
and who was supposed to flag off the Rath Yatra, the Archbishop expressed 
his hope saying, I am sure you will be of great assistance to the Prime 
Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in taking our country in the right direction 
that is so beautifully spelt out in the Preamble of our Constitution. The 
letter concludes with a note of optimism saying, I hope and pray that you 
will be able to strengthen secular democracy in our country and give the 
minorities a sense of security which in recent times has somewhat been 
shaken because of the incidents that have taken place, particularly in 
Gujarat .

The Archbishop of Delhi has had several programmes of social and spiritual 
nature, including a whole night prayer vigil, in his attempts to bring 
peace and normalcy in Gujarat. He has also joined other religious leaders 
to work towards the goal of peace and harmony in the country.