Washington DC: December 5, 2008. (PCP) The Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations in North America (FIACONA) unequivocally condemns the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai. "The highly coordinated attacks speak of the global dimensions of the menace of terrorism. FIACONA is happy to note the commitment shown by India and the United States during the recent visit of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for collective action to trace and punish all the guilty and prevent future attacks," said Bernard Malik, president of FIACONA in a statement. "We stand with the injured victims and with the relatives of the dead who are from many nations as we pray that God grant them peace and strength to cope with their tragedy. We salute the many brave civilians, again of many nations, and the Indian security forces who risked their lives to rescue so many hostages. We salute the officers who lay down their lives in the line of duty," Bernard Malik added. FIACONA welcomes Mr. P C Chidambaram as the new Home Minister and hopes he will bring his incisive intellect to bear on the stupendous task of ensuring safety and security to a people whose patience has been sorely tried in recent times. FIACONA deeply regrets that the outgoing Home Minister, Mr. Shivraj Patil remained silent in the face of terrorism, and helpless when challenged by Hindu radicals of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal in the long months of their sustained violence against helpless Christians in Orissa and Karnataka. Christians around the world hope that Mr. Chidambaram would ensure that freedom of faith is protected in India, and Christians are not subjected ever again to ethnic cleansing of the sort they have faced in Orissa. We bring to the attention of the Indian government that the VHP has called for an Orissa Band on Christmas Day 2008. Christians of Orissa and the world fear a repeat of violence that was seen in Kandhamal, Orissa, during Christmas week of 2007. Mr. Chidambaram should take necessary steps so that this shameful history of violence against Christians is never repeated again. "Hindu radicals do not have the right to prevent Christians exercising their fundamental rights: freedom of faith, and a life without fear in a secular, and democratic India,", said Abraham Mammen, FIACONA National Vice President. Maoists have claimed responsibility of killing Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati whose assassination was exploited to unleash an unprecedented violence on Christians of Orissa from 24 August 2008. The VHP combine continues to spread the canard that Christians had supported the assassins. FIACONA vehemently reiterates its call for an enquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to identify the Swami's killers, as also the masterminds behind the anti-Christian violence. General Secretary Titus Mathew said, "Naveen Patnaik's government seemingly functions only for Hindu radicals and has resisted all calls for a CBI enquiry, so as to shield the killers of Christians. FIACONA demands a CBI enquiry so that truth shines forth and the Hindu radicals are punished for their murderous actions." We hold Mr Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister of Orissa, to be morally responsible for the killing of over 100 innocent Christians and destruction of thousands of homes and churches from 24 August 2008 onwards.