New Delhi: Christian groups in Delhi have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to issue strict orders to state governments to respect the rule of law and obey the national policy of not tolerating violence against religions In an August 30 memorandum addressed to the prime minister the groups bemoaned that Christians, especially pastors and priests, are under “severe pressure in various states.” Given below is a copy of the memorandum released at a sit-in demonstration held in New Delhi on August 30. Memorandum by the Christian Community of Delhi 30th August 2015 To, Mr. Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, New Delhi Dear Sir, Greetings, The protest rally today at Parliament street by the Christians of the National Capital Region – citizens of India – is part of a series of protests by the community since 2014 expressing our collective frustration, deep sorrow and mounting anguish at the government’s cynicism and apathy to stop the targeted violence against us. Your assurances that the Union government will not tolerate any violence against religious minorities have almost immediately been followed by a fresh spurt in speeches and statements from luminaries of the Sangh Parivar inciting hate and violence against the Christian community. Inevitably, violence of the most brutal and inhuman kind follows in its wake. We remind the government of the gang rapes of a 72-year-old nun in a convent school in West Bengal, and of a young nun in a Convent in Chhattisgarh. Attacks on churches, clergy and members of the community have been reported from many other states. The Evangelical Fellowship of India, Alliance Defending Freedom and other civil society and human rights groups have published detailed lists. The police response has been either to allege that the crimes were the handiwork of petty criminals, short circuits or vandalism without communal motives. In some cases, the police seem to be going out of their way to incriminate Christians in such crimes, not just to divert attention but to attempt to put the church under pressure. The police forces of the concerned states and the administrative civil servants have been derelict in their duty, to say the least. The impunity speaks ill of the neutrality of the administrative structure and the police personnel. In fact, in several incidents, the police have been complicit in the crime. These are listed on our earlier reports. Illustrative of these have been attacks on the Pastors of Nihal Vihar in the West Delhi region of New Delhi recently. The pastors were attacked by known political elements in the presence of the local police and their officers. Our complaints to higher police officers and the Lt Governor have failed to produce any concrete results. The criminals seem to rule the areas of this part of the city and are patronized by the police. This is the situation in New Delhi, the national capital, and the seat of the government. It is not surprising that the Community, especially Pastors and other members of the clergy are under severe pressure in various states, but specially Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Maharashtra, Telengana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The offending groups remain the same. In states such as Chhattisgarh, the village Panchayats and even the district officials and political leaders seem supportive of the anti-Christian groups and their activity. Out efforts to raise this matter in New Delhi has in the past been met with the explanation that law and order is a state subject. Our Demands 1. We with utmost respect therefore demand that the most strict instructions be issued from your office that state governments respect the rule of law and obey the declared national policy of not tolerating violence against religions and other minorities, particularly against Women, Dalits, Tribals and vulnerable sections of our community in rural and urban areas. 2. We also take this opportunity to reaffirm the struggle of Dalit Christians and demand that the government stop discriminating on the basis of religion on issues of affirmative action for scheduled castes. 3. On the 7th anniversary of the large-scale violence against the Christian community in the district of Kandhamal in Orissa, we demand that the Union government use its good offices with the state government to ensure commensurate compensation and rehabilitation, and the rebuilding of churches, which were destroyed in arson. We would like to point out that in the past, various governments at the center and in the states have given such assistance to help places of worship of various religions, which were destroyed in communal or other violence. 4. Central scholarships and other schemes for youth, women and children be implemented with a sense of urgency and under the supervision of senior officers so that assistance reaches the target groups. We would like to point out that most Christians remain poor and suffer various types of deprivation and discrimination. These need to be identified and addressed. 5. Government consult the community through its religious, political and social leadership before it ventures on any move that impacts personal laws, or threatens the freedom of faith as enshrined in the Constitution. We thank you in anticipation that our issues will get your personal consideration. God bless you God bless India Christian Community of Delhi Signed: Archbishop of Delhi Anil Couto Bishop Subosh Mondal, Bishop – Methodist Church in India Rev. Dr. Richard Howell, General Secretary – Evangelical Fellowship of India Rev. Isaac Shaw, Executive Director – Delhi Bible
Institute Dr. Michael Williams, President, Mount Carmel Schools Advocate Pramod Singh, President, Christian Legal Association Mr. A C Michael, Ex Member, Delhi Minorities Commission Rev. Daniel Kumar – DPAT (Delhi Pastors Action Team) Rev. Emmanuel Verma – DPAT (Delhi Pastors Action Team) Rev. Seth Masih – DPAT (Delhi Pastors Action Team) Rev.Bibek Pattanaik – DPAT (Delhi Pastors Action Team) Mr. Ajit Pal – DPAT (Delhi Pastors Action Team) Rev. Vijayesh Lal, Executive Director (Designate) – Evangelical Fellowship of India Cc: The Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh The Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Dr. Najma Heptullah