Solidarity group opposes Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement (LARR) ordinance

Please find here below the press release from BHOOMI – a Forum for Protection of Land in India (FPLI) opposing Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement (LARR) ordinance. 

Bhoomi – a Forum for Protection of Land in India (FPLI)

PRESS NOTE

New Delhi, India | 27 January 2015

The solidarity group resolved on 22^nd January 2015 at Visakhapatnam meet to call upon people of our country to oppose and resist the undemocratic Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement (LARR) ordinance to take away the democratic rights of the farmers, tribals given in the Act 2013. The soul of the new Act was that the acquisition could not be done without consent of 80% land owners and Social Impact Assessment on which the public hearing was a must. But without consulting the public, people and organizations, and political parties and Parliament members the Union Government’s ordinance to end the democratic action of land acquisition process is nothing but to establish despotic corporate rule in our country at the cost of life and livelihood of millions of farmers, agriculture workers, Fishers, Adivasis and Dalits.

Indian Churches called to 'MINISTER TO SAVE WATER'

PRESS NOTE

Indian Churches called to 'MINISTER TO SAVE WATER'

At the instance of

Week Of Prayer for Christian Unity (Unity Octave) | 18 - 25 January 2015

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Nagpur (India) 14 Jan 2015 The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an international Christian ecumenical observance kept annually between 18 January and 25 January. It is actually an octave, that is, an observance lasting eight days. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity began in 1908 as the Octave of Christian Unity, and focused on prayer for church unity. 

In India, each year, the Commission on Unity, Mission and Evangelism of the National Council of Churches in India facilitates the Indian Christian communities to come together for prayer, fellowship and witness during this time.  This year, from January 18 – 25, 2015, with the theme “Water is Right – Water is Life”, the prayers will lead the water campaign with a more expansive focus to include water issues in the list of concerns for all people.

Church Leaders Called on the President of India on the Christmas Eve

Church leaders representing the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) and the Regional Christian Council of North West India met the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhawan on 24th December, 2014. The Church leaders greeted him on the occasion of Christmas and offered prayers for his health and for the Nation. 

The leaders also raised their concern with the President about the attacks on Christians in the different parts of the country as well as about conducting of Government functions on 25th December which is a public holiday (Christmas). The President affirmed that India is a pluralistic society and all the religious communities are to be given equal respect. He was very concerned that the social harmony, which has existed for a long time in India, should not be allowed to be disturbed.