Hyderabad: A prominent Muslim political leader in Telangana has demanded stern action against those involved in a series of attacks on Christians in the southern Indian state.
The demand was made by Akbaruddin Owaisi, a legislator belonging to the Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (Council of the Union of Muslims) at press conference on January 5 in Hyderabad, the state capital. The legislator also released a letter he wrote to the state’s Director General of Police Mahender Reddy to draw his attention to the attacks.
The letter noted that on January 23 in Singotam village of Nagarkurnool district, a mob attacked a small group of Christians who were distributing Bibles. “They forcefully snatched the Bibles from them, opened the boxes with Bibles inside their car, piled them up in heap and burnt hundreds of Bibles in broad daylight,” the Muslim leader’s letter noted.
The attack has “severely bruised the sentiments of all Christians in India,” he added.
Owaisi also cited an incident on January 29 when another mob of radical Hindus attacked a church in Togota Mandal, Siddipet District and caused severe damage to the property.
On February 1, the radicals threatened Pastor Emmanuel from Doulthabad, Hatnoora Mandal, Sangareddy District, for conducting prayer services. The radicals entered the pastor’s residence and slapped him. They also tauntingly asked, “Where is your Jesus now?”
The Muslim leader also noted the Hindu radicals’ threat to torch the church if the pastor and his people failed to leave the place.
Another attack took place on February 2 in Muddapet, Pulkal Mandal of Sangareddy District. According to the Muslim legislator, some Christian women were praying peacefully when a mob attacked them and forcefully snatched the Gospel fliers and set them on fire. The radicals also verbally abused the women in front of the villagers and threatened them not to come again.
“Incidents such as these damage the reputation of our great country throughout the world,” Owaisi said.
“It is our prime concern to maintain religious harmony and peaceful coexistence among different communities of our country. Our constitution ensures that such a peaceful environment, but we are concerned about the recent developments in our country. Of late the religious fanaticism is on the steady growth in our country. Innumerable are the incidents where, especially the Christians, Dalits and other minorities have been attacked,” Owaisi said.
The MIM leader said, he along with the Raashtreeya Kraisthava Parishad (national Christian council), has requested the DGP to take severe action against these culprits to ensure such incidents do not recur.
“Everyone is not aware about what action has been taken on the culprits who has committed the horrific crime of burning the Bibles. It’s our demand that the culprits be produced before the media and criminal cases be booked against these criminals under non-bailable sections so that no other citizen of our country will ever venture to indulge in such fanaticism and learn to respect every religion, as our constitution ensures us. We also bring to your kind notice that we have already given representation to the Office of CM, Secretariat and Office of Home Minister, Secretariat to take strictest action on those hate mongering culprits,” he added.
(Source: thehansindia.com)