Author: ANI
Publication: New Kerala
Date: January 16, 2005
URL: http://news.newkerala.com/india-news/?action=fullnews&id=60729
Rage and fury has gripped this tsunami-hit
tiny Hindu village in India's southern Tamil Nadu after a group of Christian
missionaries allegedly refused them aid for not agreeing to follow their
religion.
Samanthapettai, near the temple
town of Madurai, faced near devastation on the December 26 when massive
tidal waves wiped it clean of homes and lives.
Most of the 200 people here are
homeless or displaced , battling to rebuild lives and locating lost family
members besides facing risks of epidemic,disease and trauma.
Jubilant at seeing the relief trucks
loaded with food, clothes and the much-needed medicines the villagers,
many of who have not had a square meal in days, were shocked when the nuns
asked them to convert before distributing biscuits and water.
Heated arguments broke out as the
locals forcibly tried to stop the relief trucks from leaving. The missionaries,
who rushed into their cars on seeing television reporters and the cameras
refusing to comment on the incident and managed to leave the village.
Disappointed and shocked into disbelief
the hapless villagers still await aid.
"Many NGOs (volunteer groups) are
extending help to us but there in our village the NGO, which was till now
helping us is now asking us to follow the Christian religion. We are staunch
followers of Hindu religion and refused their request. And after that these
people with their aid materials are leaving the village without distributing
that to us," Rajni Kumar, a villager said.
The incident is an exception to
concerted charity in a catastrophe that has left no one untouched.
