Orissa Christians breathe easier after election defeat of Hindu extremists

Compass Direct News
6/22/2009

Christians in India heaved sighs of relief after the surprise rout of a Hindu nationalist party in May national and state assembly elections in Orissa, the scene of anti-Christian violence that killed hundreds and displaced tens of thousands last year.

A local centrist party, the Biju Janata Dal, took charge of the Orissa state government, soundly defeating the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by 109 to 7 assembly seats. A coalition led by the centrist Indian National Congress won a second term in the federal government; it defeated a BJP-led coalition in 2004.

"The election result is a statement against the persecution of non-Hindus," said Vijay Simha, a senior Indian journalist. "Since the vote went against right-wing parties, the result is a strong rejection of extremist religious programs." the rest