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Two extremist groups--the Sangh Parivar and the VHP--were leading the call for the strike, but they officially called it off Friday. India's media are reporting various reasons that the bandh was called off. The online version of The Times of India reports that the groups are now seeking "reconciliation and dialogue" rather than more violence. The online edition of The Hindu quotes an official in the organization as saying government threats to arrest the leaders of the strike precipitated the cancellation.
Members of these groups have been on a campaign of terror in Orissa since August 23 when their leader was murdered. Maoists claimed responsibility for the murder, but Hindu extremists blamed Christians, saying they killed him in retaliation for his vocal opposition to allowing believers to openly share their faith.
An estimated 500 people have been killed and thousands of homes, churches and prayer halls have been destroyed since August.
Even without the threat of the bandh, Christians in Orissa are proceeding cautiously with Christmas celebration plans. Many are cancelling their Christmas services altogether. The same groups behind the recent attacks also stormed into several churches last year and beat pastors and believers during their Christmas worship services.
GFA correspondents in Orissa report that the majority of Christians in the Kandhamal district, the epicenter of the violence, are not returning to their villages. Their homes are gone and they know that returning will only put them face-to-face with their persecutors again. Some have moved to other areas. Thousands are still living in the state's dense forests, even as temperatures hover around the freezing mark.
Gospel for Asia missionaries have been able to reach some of the refugees to provide warm clothing and other daily necessities.
Gospel for Asia is a mission organization sharing God's love through both words and actions in the most unreached regions of the 10/40 Window. GFA native missionaries share the Good News and disciple Christians through some 30,000 worship centers in 10 Asian nations.
