Sources close to India House describe him as ``a genuinely concerned'' person. While the treatment of Christians and Ahmadiyas in Pakistan was also raised in the House, the focus was the attacks on Christians in India. Winnick put down the deterioration of the condition to the election of a BJP government.

Opening the debate at a late-night sitting on Wednesday, Winnick called on the British government to let the authorities in India and Pakistan ``know of our deep and continuing concern about what has been happening there.''

Expressing alarm at the killings of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two young sons in Orissa, he also quickly added that ``India has maintained democracy while facing far greater social problems than we do.''

Winnick accepted the interjection of MP forMiddlesborough South Ashok Kumar that India had a good record on religious tolerance but said, ``that is why it is all the more sad.''

He maintained that the situation was getting worse: ``Between 1964 and 1996, 38 cases of violence were reported against Christians in India. Last year alone 136 cases were reported.'' He put this down to the election of a BJP government.

Winnick said that he accepted ``that some extremist missionaries, usually -- perhaps not surprisingly -- go about their business in a way that can cause disquiet and offence but often the attacks are directed against law-abiding people in India who happen to be Christians and are soft targets.''

When Keith Vaz, MP for Leicester East, said that the government had condemned the attacks, Winnick said that the government should also bring the culprits to justice.

Unlike in the past when the debates in the House have caught the Indian High Commission off guard and have sent it scurrying for defensive cover with cries of ``anti-Indian'', thediscussion on Wednesday expressed concern and respected India's line on the matter.

Junior foreign minister Tony Lloyd said that it would not be fair to stigmatise all of India because of attacks on Christians in some parts. Winnick agreed but said, ``We are dealing with extremist groups which have been encouraged by the election of a very right-wing nationalist Hindu-based party that is known for its intolerance. We have to recognise that unfortunate fact.''

The broad tone -- concern rather than condemnation -- reflected the assiduous work done by High Commissioner Lalit Mansingh to ensure that the critics and concerned people in Britain did not lose sight of the big picture.

Lloyd said that it was ``not in the spirit of criticism but of genuine fellowship and concern'' that his government expressed its sorrow at the attacks.

He stressed that it was important to remember ``that protests have come first and foremost within India'' in the press, from the major political parties and the President.

Hesaid, ``The Government of India has responded with a clear denunciation of the attacks and an appeal for a return to India's traditional values of tolerance'' and welcomed the Prime Minister's undertaking to ``protect all sections of people, irrespective of their gender, caste and faith.''

Lloyd quoted Mahatma Gandhi: ``Indian culture is neither Hindu, Islamic or any other, wholly. It is a fusion of all''.

He also defended India's record saying that it was ``a model of a successful, religiously diverse and democratic state.''