Rajnath Singh instructs Delhi police to ensure security of churches

New Delhi: Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday instructed Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi to make proper arrangement for the security of churches and other places of worship.

Singh's instruction came after he met a group of leaders from the Christian community and assured them no discrimination will be tolerated in the name of caste, colour, language or religion.

Earlier in the day, at least 200 people, including an Aam Aadmi Party leader, were detained while marching towards the Home Minister's residence here demanding action against the continuous attacks on Delhi churches. 

Met with a group of leaders from Christian community today who were concerned over the reports of attacks on churches pic.twitter.com/fTyBCnhArV — Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) February 5, 2015

I assured them that the present dispensation would never tolerate any discrimination in the name of caste, colour, language or religion.

— Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) February 5, 2015

The group gave a memorandum to Singh demanding security for Christians and their places of worship.

The demonstrators began their march at 9:30 am from the Sacred Heart Cathedral in central Delhi.

They raised slogans like "We want justice" and also held banners reading "Stop attacking us" and "Peace is all we seek".

They also demanded a probe by a special investigation team (SIT) in all cases of attacks on Delhi churches.

Father Dominic Emanuel, spokesperson of the Delhi Catholic Archdiocese, was also dragged into a bus. He said, "Police is being forceful and they should be ashamed of it."

Aam Aadmi Party leader Raghav Chadha has also been detained. "I am here in personal capacity and have come to show solidarity. It is in national interest and not political interest," said Chadha.

Joint Commissioner of Police Mukesh Meena told reporters here: "We have detained the protesters and they have been taken to Parliament Street police station. They did not have permission to protest outside the church and we cannot allow them to protest on public roads".

According to police, "nobody can hold demonstration like this and nobody has the right to go to the Home Minister's residence just like that".

Police imposed Section 144 which bans assembly of four or more people and barricaded the area leading to the minister's residence on Ashoka Road in central Delhi.

On February 02, a south Delhi church was burgled into and a few sacred items and a DVD player were stolen.

Earlier, four other cases, including an alleged arson attack, took place at an east Delhi church on December 01.

"We demand justice as no step has been taken for our security by the authorities," David Johnny, 35, a resident of Vasant Vihar, said.

Police said they barricaded the road leading to Rajnath Singh's house. The detained demonstrators were taken to the Parliament Street police station.

(With Agency inputs)