By Matters India Reporter

New Delhi, Aug 8, 2020: Senior academics, activists and clergy from various Christian denominations from across India have called upon their community members, especially youth and students, to jointly work with civil society to ensure an India safe for minorities, Dalits, Tribals and the poor.

A “Solidarity Statement” from a newly formed group called Christians for Democracy seeks a Christian response on post-Covid issues such as threats to livelihood, public medicare, education, targeted hate and violence against religious minorities.

The August 8 statement signed by almost 100 women and men points out a sense of fear that the India Constitution may be tampered with to seriously erode safeguards of secularism, cultural diversity and freedom of religion and belief.

The statement was prepared after two webinars organized by Jesuit social scientist Father Prakash Louis.

The following is the text of the statement:

Indian Christians for Democracy Solidarity Statement

As Indian Christians we have always and continue to uphold the Constitutional Values of our country, as a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic and Republic. We believe in, and practice, the Principles of Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, enshrined in the Constitution. Christians as individuals and their institutions have been in the forefront in times of disasters and natural calamities.

As the Corona Virus struck India, the Christian community and its institutions collaborated with the local administration, people’s groups, NGOs, and civil society in extending relief to the affected masses. They also were at the service of the migrant laborers returning home, providing food, water, shelter, space for quarantine. Many front-line volunteers risked their lives to stand in solidarity with the people.

As citizens of this country, we are troubled by the lack of empathy for the millions rendered jobless, many returning to villages they had left to find work in towns and cities to feed their hungry families. Government schemes do not always reach the poorest of the poor, hence we are concerned that a vast segment of the excluded, marginalized are made dependent, what would be their plight in this pandemic?

We are also aware of the fact that, the Dalits, Adivasis, Most Backward Castes, Poor and single mothers are the worst affected by the consequences of the pandemic, and the continuing lockdown. We know many of the vulnerable and high-risk persons and families are on the verge of starvation, some close to death.

The government says it is converting the crisis into an opportunity. The opportunity seems to benefit the same people from the skewed, unequal and exclusionary Indian sociopolitical, economic and cultural order, while the poor, the working class, women, rural masses, migrants contribute their lives and sweat to uphold the edifice of the country for the benefit of the privileged.

The number of citizens affected by the virus continues to grow by the day. Tens of thousands have already lost their lives. Medical and health care facilities are inadequate.

Adding to the crisis are floods in several regions of Bihar and North East, which also faced the fury of a cyclone.

This seems an odd time for governments at the Centre and some of the states to be involved in religious functions such as the Bhumi Pujan at Ayodhya.

On the other hand, we are greatly concerned that the emergency Covid-19 has created has been taken as an opportune moment to exacerbate cultural policing and mob lynching by self-styled protectors of the cow. The State’s silencing of political dissent and even mild criticism of the regime on social media is deeply disturbing. Scores of students are being detained, refused bail, or targeted for their political opinion. Important laws with serious consequences for the environment, health and education have been pushed through without public interface.

In this situation, as Indian Christians:

1) We join with fellow citizens to uphold the values of the Indian Constitution.

2) We call upon government to provide food with dignity, and livelihood options to the poor, the vulnerable and high-risk persons and families.

3) We seek health care facilities for these people, both for existing ailments as also for Covid-19 related vulnerabilities.

4) We call for an immediate end to intimidation and arrest on false and unverified charges.

5) We encourage peaceful co-existence of all the citizens irrespective of caste, class, gender, religion, geography and orientations.

6) We call for ending all forms of exploitation, oppression, exclusion and marginalization at this time of crisis.

7) We demand strict implementation of existing laws to deal with and prevent violence to women which is increasing with impunity.

8) We call upon the central and state governments and the corporate sector to generate employment and empower students and youth, so they become sentient and involved citizens of our great country.

9) We stand in solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir for their Constitutional rights.

10) And in particular, we call upon the religious, social, academic and institutional leaders of our own community, and as well as our youth and students, to join civil society in the common struggle to achieve these goals.

This statement emanates from interactions and two large web-based national consultations in July 2020.

Jai Hind Satyameva Jayate Jai Bharat

In Solidarity, and prayer

Virginia Saldanha
John Dayal
Rowena Robinson
A.C. Michael
Virginus Xaxa
David Selvaraj
Inbaraj Jeyakumar
Antony Dias
Vijayan M J
Joe Athialy
Anand Mathew
Goldie M. George
M.K. George
William Stanley
Chandra Mohan
Dorothy Fernandes
Cedric Prakash
Antony Arulraj
K P Sasi
Gracy Fernandes
Joe Xavier
Walter Fernandes
Aasha Ramesh
Ajaya Singh
Vincent Manoharan
Paul Thelakat
A.X.J. Bosco
Sebastian Kallupura
John Kumar
Subhash Jose
Paul D’Souza
Joseph Mattam
Alex Ekka
Valerian Mendonca
Francis Guntipilly
Varghese Theckanath
Anastasia Gill
Nikhilesh John
Benston Johnson
Vincentia Mammoottil
Denzil Fernandes
Astrid Lobo
Philip Vinod Peacock
Rudi Heredia
Mathew Kayani
Leo Saldanha
Brian Pereira
Pamela Fernandes
Angelo Menezes
Frazer Mascarenhas
Allwyn D Silva
John Almeida
Prisca Dias
Arvind Peter
Alex Tuscano
Robert Jeyaraj
Roger Samuel
V.S. Roy David
Judith Anne
Prakash Louis