Also, the government would not sanction mass leave to the Christian employees who proposed to join protest rallies planned all over the State. ``The government can allow a mass rally but not a mass leave", he asserted at his weekly press briefing here today. He was replying to queries on what steps the government was contemplating to protect students' interests in view of the Christians' call for closure of their institutions in the State on December 4 as part of their country-wide protest against violent attacks on them.

``I clearly believe that Christians should not close down their institutions on Friday. The decision is uncalled for. They should not resort to any such act that may spoil students' academic career. I will inquire into this", Patel said.

He, however, said in a democratic country like India all communities had the right to organise rallies to express grievances, and added: "we are prepared to listen to Christians' grievances, if they approach us".

Although stray incidents of violence (against Christians and their institutions) took place in parts of the State, the overall law and order situation was satisfactory, Patel asserted, adding those involved had been arrested.

Reacting to the Chief Minister's statement, Father Hector Pinto, principal of St Xavier's School, Gandhinagar, told Express Newsline in the evening: "For the last one year, we have witnessed a spate violence on Christian institutions and personnel, which has greatly saddened our community. As a mark of protest, we Christians all over the country have decided to close down our institutions for a day on Friday".

The students' study will not suffer because of the closure of missionary schools just for a day, he said and explained that it would be a ``discretionary'' holiday in all the Xavier's schools throughout the country, for these school would function on Thursday despite a regular holiday on account of the St Xavier's Feast celebrations. "Our school management has informed the district education officers concerned about this", he added.

He said a Christian rally would be taken out in Ahmedabad on December 4 to protest violent attacks on the community and their institutions. Later, a delegation of Christians, led by Bishop Stanislaus Fernandes, would submit a memorandum to Governor Anshuman Singh at Raj Bhavan.