SIT constituted to probe Delhi church fire: Rajnath tells Lok Sabha

New Delhi: Home Minister Rajnath Singh told the Lok Sabha Monday that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was probing the incident of a suspected arson attack on a church in Dilshad Garden in the national capital. Responding to concerns of some opposition members over security of “minority institutions”, Rajnath Singh said that ensuring communal harmony in the country was the top priority of the government. [caption id=“attachment_1840065” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Tarique Anwar/ Firstpost[/caption] He said the government acted swiftly following information that St. Sebastian’s Church in Dilshad Garden had been gutted. “On learning of the incident, I immediately spoke with the lieutenant governor of Delhi. A SIT was constituted to probe the matter. We have made the investigation time-bound,” he said. Rajnath Singh said if there was an incident of attack on a church in Delhi’s Jasola area, the government would also get that properly investigated. Raising the issue, Anto Antony of the Congress said that a church in Jasola area was attacked, making it the second incident in about a week involving churches in the capital. He said that had the government been able to arrest those responsible for the fire in the church in Dilshad Garden, the incident of attack in Jasola would not have occurred. He said “laxity to act” was a major reason for such incidents. “The recurring attacks are not only of concern to Christians but to all those who want social harmony,” he said. The matter was also raised by E. Ahamed of the Indian Union Muslim League who called it a serious matter. St. Sebastian’s Church in Dilshad Garden was gutted in a fire Dec 1, leading to protests and sit-ins by Christians and their supporters asking for a detailed probe into the alleged arson. Meanwhile, reports said that miscreants had thrown a stone inside a church Saturday evening in Delhi’s Jasola area and damaged a window. IANS