Lalu, Oscar warn Orissa, Karnataka for attack on Christians

New Delhi, Oct 2 (PTI) Ahead of a Cabinet meeting tomorrow, two Union Ministers today warned Orissa and Karnataka, witnessing continued attacks on Christians, that they could be in for trouble if the violence remained unabated in the states.
Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes said they would take up the issue with Prime Minister Manmohan SinghManmohan Singh in the Cabinet meeting tomorrow and see to it that measures are taken to contain violence.

They were addressing a peace march of Christians of Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) here.

The two leaders also hinted that the Centre may consider even going beyond Article 355, a rarely used constitutional provision that typically holds out the threat of dismissal of a state government and imposition of President's rule if the warning of the Centre goes unheeded.

"The Prime Minister has just returned. A cabinet meeting is scheduled tomorrow. We will apprise him of your sentiments. We will also request him to either visit the places of occurence himself or send a delegation there," Prasad said.

Charging the BJP and Sangh Parivar outfits with fomenting communal tension, he said "Bajrang Dal is sullying the name of 'Bajrangbali (Lord Mahavir)'. These people have nothing to do either with Ram or Rahim. They are hungry for power and doing these things keeping in mind the upcoming Lok Sabha election." Assuring all support to Christian community, Prasad lauded the role of Christian organisations in spreading education. PTI