By Matters India Reporter
New Delhi, Dec 31, 2021: The largest association of India’s Catholic lay people on December 31 urged the federal government to check targeted hate and violence to make minority communities feel safe in the country.
The All India Catholic Union (AICU) says 2021 saw a “surge in communalism, abetted by politicians” targeting religious minorities, including Christians.
“It is a matter of national shame that even on Christmas Day, as many as 16 incidents of violence took place on churches, congregations, institutions and even on celebrations. The sight of a broken statue of Jesus Christ in the compound of a church observing His birthday shocked not just the community, but all peace-loving people of the country,” says a statement issued by the 102-year-old union on the New Year Eve.
It says data keepers have documented more than 500 cases of violence on Christians in 2021, “the highest since the Odisha pogrom of 2008.”
The Catholic group regrets that the state has failed to act against the perpetrators.
“This may be so perhaps because among them are ministers, legislators, party leaders and high-profile members of right-wing hyper nationalist militant groups. We are alarmed at the open call of genocide of Muslims and elimination of the Christian faith made at mass gatherings in north and central India. Police have been complicit,” alleges the statement issued by John Dayal, the union’s spokesperson.
“In this environment of hate, governments have added to our pain. Karnataka assembly has passed an anti-conversion law which is the harshest ever enacted by any state in the country. It criminalizes interfaith marriages and almost entirely robs many classes of people, especially Dalits and Adivasis, of their freedom of faith,” the statement adds.
The non-renewal of the Missionaries of Charity’s certificate to receive overseas funds was the “last act of assault on the community” by the federal government, the union says.
The congregation was founded by Saint Mother Teresa, a Nobel Peace Laureate whom the Indian government had honored with Bharat Ratna (Jewel of India), the highest civilian award.
“It is ironic that (the non-renewal) is done soon after our Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on Pop Francis in Rome and invited him to visit India, an act we welcomed wholeheartedly.”
The Catholic union urged the government to restore the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act certificate of the Missionaries of Charity and other Christian and civil NGOs who work with the poorest of the poor.
“We cherish India’s history of communal harmony and great fundamental rights including the freedom to profess, practice and propagate our religion. Future years, we hope, will see harmony becoming stronger and giving a befitting challenge to forces and elements that seek to harm religious minorities, Dalits and Adivasis,” the statement adds.
The union also noted that 2021 has been a traumatic year with the global Covid pandemic continuing for the second year with a devastating impact on India.
The pandemic killed hundreds of thousands and infected millions of people in the country.
The year also saw various natural calamities particularly in the states on the west coast, Kerala and the sub-Himalayan region bringing great suffering to their people.