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Christians are safe in Gujarat, embassy assures US

Worried by media reports about the attacks onChristians in Gujarat, the Indian embassy in Washington issued a press release on Thursday saying "the community is not under threat and will continue to play its due role in the life and development of the nation".

"The Christian community in India is a popular and respected section of Indian people. There is a tradition of amity in regard to this community which will be fully protected," it said.

"Since many of these [media] reports have sensationalised the events," the statement sought "to put the whole situation in proper perspective".

It said the incidents of attacks on places of religious worship had been widely condemned by all sections in India in keeping with the country's secular traditions. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had made it plain that "there is no place for religious bigotry in India" and that the government is committed to maintain social amity and peace.

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UNI

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