Marseilles:  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday strongly defended India's secular credentials when the European Union conveyed its “serious concerns” over attacks on Christians in India.

“We are a secular state. We are a multi-religious, multi-cultural nation,” Manmohan Singh told reporters when asked about the attacks on Christians in India in recent weeks.

“The constitution guarantees all citizens of India the right to profess and propagate a religion of their choice,” he said.

Manmohan Singh admitted there have been “sporadic attacks” on Christian shrines but underlined he had already condemned these incidents as “acts of national shame”.

Source : IANS