India's 60th.Republic Day Celebrations,Yonkers, New York Reported By Thomas Koovalloor

January 26th, 2009
The Celebration for 60th.India Republic Day was conducted at INDO-AMERICAN YOGA INSTITUTE,54 YONKERS TERRACE, YONKERS, NEW YORK .
It was conducted by the Coalition of Indian American Christians, a newly formed organization in the US, organized by Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations in North America ( FIACONA), Federation of India Catholic Associations of North America ( FICAA), Indian Christian Forum (ICF), National Association of Asian Indian Christians in the U.S.A. (NAAIC), India Catholic Association of America (ICAA), Syro-Malabar Catholic Congress of of North America (SMCC), St. Thomas Ecumenical of New York, Ecumenical Christian Fellowship of New Jersey (ECFNJ), Pentalcostal Inter- Church Council of America, CRY FOR INDIA, PHILADELPHIA, GUJARAT CHRISTIAN FEDERATION (GCF). Many well known Indian American leaders were present at that meeting. Bronx St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church Vicar Rev. Fr. Jos Kandathikudy was the Chief Guest. George Abraham (UN) was the chief coordinator. In his welcome speech George Abraham mentioned about the importance of this particular Republic Day, because our Prime Minister was absent due to his illness, still it was a great event without any terrorists activities, which shows India is united to defeat the terrorists. He also mentioned that we should be proud of as Indian Christians, because we were in India since AD 52. He also mentioned about the importance of uniting all Christians in the United States to fight for freedom and security for our fellow Christians who were seemingly a minority in India. In his speech Fr. Jos Kandathikudy praised God for not even a single activity of the terrorists in this republic day. He also mentioned about our unity in diversity. He blamed the violence against the Christians in India , especially Orissa. He also prayed for the enemies who persecuted the christians in Orissa, to divert from their wickedness , and to forgive them. He also prayed for a better prosperous India in the near future.