India: Religious Freedom

Mr. Jim Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Indian counterpart on measures to enable displaced Christians in Orissa province to return to their homes.

Mr. Ivan Lewis
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not discussed this with his Indian counterpart. On 10-11 November 2009 our High Commissioner to India visited Orissa and enquired with the local state authorities, including the Chief Minister, about the status of Christians still affected by the violence in Orissa in 2008, living conditions, compensation and the prosecution of those responsible. The local authorities advised that the state run camps had been closed, affected Christians had now returned to their homes, compensation had been provided and perpetrators had been convicted. However, resettlement of those displaced and the reconstruction of churches was still ongoing.