The denial was corroborated by members of the Christian delegation, including Bishop S Fernandes and Fr Francis Parmar, who called on Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel this afternoon to air grievances over the attacks on Christians and their institutions in the Dangs and seek government protection.

On the other hand, the Chief Minister is learnt to have reprimanded Social Justice Minister Fakirbhai Vaghela for issuing a statement, criticising the Christian organisations over the so-called SOS message to the Vatican.

Highly-placed sources told Express Newsline that Vaghela's statement had not gone down well with Patel, especially when the Government has launched a fire-fighting exercise to sooth the ruffled feelings of members of the minority community.

Patel was reported to have called up Vaghela and cautioned him against issuing such a "controversial" statement to the Press without checking the authenticity of the report on the so-called SOS, the sources said, describing Vaghela's statement as a "well-calculated move to embarrass the Chief Minister". Vaghela is known to be close to Industries Minister Suresh Mehta.

Yesterday, Vaghela had said the government should take up the "SOS message" with the Union Home and External Affairs Ministries as the attacks on the Christian community were "India's internal problem".

Vaghela had said the Chief Minister should initiate legal action against the Christian organisations with the help of the Union Government, and visas and citizenship of Christian missionaries be cancelled.

He had also exhorted Gujarati newspapers to expose the Christian missionaries' "hidden plans of mopping up foreign funds by resorting to international blackmail of India".