New Delhi, August 29: Thousands of Christian educational institutions across the country today remained closed to protest against the attacks on community members in Orissa, with students, teachers and activists taking to streets demanding immediate end to the violence.

The day-long protests called by the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), were backed by a large number of Christian groups including the Protestant Group Church of South India against the communal flare up that has left 12 people dead following the killing of a VHP leader.

In Delhi, prominent colleges like St Stephens and Jesus and Mary and schools including Columbus, Mount Carmel and Don Bosco were closed in response to the stir.

"About 4,500 Christian schools across the country are closed to express solidarity with the innocent people in Orissa who have been targeted," Babu Joseph, spokesperson of Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), said.

Rallies were held in all State Capitals and memoranda were given to Governors on the issue, he said.

In Mumbai, prominent citizens from different walks of life�film director Mahesh Bhatt, social activist Tushar Gandhi, Abraham Mathai, general secretary of All India Christian Council and various community organisations participated in a rally at Azad Maidan.

Braving incessant rain, thousands of students and teachers belonging to schools run by various churches took out procession in Mizoram's Capital Aizwal.

In Kerala, schools and colleges run by Catholic Church, Orthodox Church and the Protestant Group Church of South India remained shut while several other Christian bodies held prayer meetings and passed resolutions on the issue.

Institutions, including professional colleges, run by three Catholic streams�Syro Malabar, Syro Malankara and the Latin hierarchy�remained closed across Kerala.

Church-run educational institutions in Tamil Nadu also joined the stir.

In Kolkata, protesters under the banner of Bangiya Christiya Pariseba, held placards reading "CM, answer why Christians are being persecuted in Orissa".

A group of Christian leaders yesterday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who assured them that "every effort" would be made to restore normalcy in Orissa.

Convent schools remained closed in Sikkim and Tripura where a peace rally was organised by a prominent Church body in the capital.

Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee (MKHC), a conglomerate of 13 major Churches, appealed to all members to observe fast on Sunday.

In the north, missionary schools remained closed in Punjab and Haryana as well as Uttar Pradesh with prayer meetings held at several places.

Scores of people also held a demonstration in front of Orissa Bhavan in Delhi asking the Government to ensure law and order in the State and protect life and property of members of the minority community.

"Communalism needs to be fought with the same passion we combat terrorism.

Should Gandhiji been alive, he would have been in the affected Kandhamal in Orissa," Tushar Gandhi, the great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, said at the rally in Mumbai.

Catholic Secular Forum (CSF) General Secretary Joseph Dias, who is part of an independent panel looking into the violence said, "the attack on Christians is nothing short of fascism".

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