BHOPAL, India (UCAN) -- Christian leaders in Madhya Pradesh state say a federal official's visit has come as a blessing for their beleaguered communities here.

Michael Pinto, vice chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities, toured the state May 17-19 to investigate complaints. The federal government set up the commission in 1992 to protect the interests of Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, Sikhs and Zoroastrians, all considered religious minorities in predominantly Hindu India.

Pinto, a Catholic, began his three-day visit of the state's major cities in Ujjain, 775 kilometers south of New Delhi. The next day he visited Indore, 55 kilometers farther south, and his last stop was Bhopal, 190 kilometers east of Ujjain. All three places have reported incidents of violence against Christians and their institutions in the past five years.

Pinto met 15 Christian delegations in the three cities, where he also visited sites of recent attacks and consoled people. The sites included a mission station in Ujjain diocese, where Hindu fundamentalists destroyed a church, a school and Marian grotto on April 5.

During his visit, Pinto directed officials of the state's 48 districts to follow up such cases and take action. He also met Muslim and Sikh delegations.

Father Anand Muttungal, spokesperson for the Catholic Church in Madhya Pradesh, told UCA News on May 22 that Christians approached the national commission after they suffered more than 100 violent attacks since December 2003, when a pro-Hindu government assumed power in the state.

Father Muttungal said Christian delegations apprised Pinto about problems their people continue to face in the state. The federal official gave the groups a "patient hearing," the priest added.

Pinto's visit has given Christians hope, says Prem Singh Machar, secretary of Madhya Pradesh Isai Mahashang (Christian grand council). "Now, we feel there is someone to listen to us and our problems," the Catholic lay leader told UCA News on May 22.

Machar said Christians now believe the state administration will act against their attackers. The visit, he added, has also exposed the government's partisan approach to anti-Christian violence.

Father Hans Puthiakulangara, spokesperson for Ujjain diocese, told UCA News on May 21 that Pinto's tour forced the administration to initiate action against those who attacked Christians. On the eve of Pinto's arrival, Ujjain police arrested three people accused of manhandling a Catholic priest and destroying a village school on Feb. 12.

"We had repeatedly requested the police to arrest them but they never did," Father Puthiakulangara lamented. According to the Missionaries of St. Thomas priest, the administration has become alert and even asked Christian groups about their problems since the federal commission sent its delegate.

The diocesan spokesperson said Pinto's visit has also helped Christians regain self-confidence, a view shared by Victor Anthony, president of Catholic Sabha (council) in Indore.

Sheela Santiago (not Shantiyago as spelled in an earlier story), who heads the women's wing of the council, described the commission's visit as a blessing for her community. Christians, she told UCA News, needed such a morale booster.

The visit will save the community from further harassment, especially when the state gets ready to go to the polls in November, she elaborated. According to her, Christians feared more attacks ahead of the election as right-wing Hindu groups try to polarize votes along sectarian lines.

Pinto told UCA News that fear among religious minorities is a "disturbing" trend. "There should be no room for fear among anybody and any community in a democratic country," he said, urging people to create "a peaceful atmosphere" for everyone to advance.

The commission member also said minority communities have not benefited from various government schemes for their welfare. In his view, the nation cannot progress if it ignores religious minorities, who form 20 percent of its 1.09 billion people.

Father Muttungal reported that Pinto ended his visit after meeting with the state governor and chief minister to brief them on the situation of minorities.

Of Madhya Pradesh's 60 million people, 91 percent are Hindus. Catholics and other Christians together comprise less than 1 percent, but Catholic educational and health institutions are valued. Radical Hindu groups have been projecting these institutions as facades for luring poor people to Christianity.

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