By John Paul
Jaipur, Jan 18, 22: As many as 300 attacks on Christians have taken place in India in the past nine months, says a report of a fact-finding team.
The report titled, “”Christians Under Attack in India,” was released January 18 at a press conference in Jaipur, capital of the northwestern Indian state of Rajasthan.
The meet was organized by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights, United Christian Form, United Against Hate and Jaipur Catholic diocese at St. Anselm’s school in Jaipur’s Malviyanagar locality.
Speaking on the attacks, Bishop Oswald Lewis of Jaipur noted that India is a country where every religion is respected and their followers have been living together with peace and harmony for centuries. “
But in the past few years the minority groups have been targeted especially Christians and Muslims. It is being done by some fringe groups to destabilize the unity of the country,” the Catholic prelate bemoaned.
Bishop Lewis also said, “It is sad to see that a community that has been offering its service to everyone in the country especially the poor and marginalized, has become the target. Such attacks are on increase. Besides, the inaction of the government encourages such groups who go unpunished. The government must take stern actions against them to preserve the unity and democracy of the country.”
The Rajasthan state president of the Association for Protection of Civil Rights, Advocate Saiyad Saadat Ali said, “Our country is a secular country where everyone has the right to profess and propagate their faith. But there are some people who want to snatch away from their rights. Since some days there has been continues attacks on Christians which must be condemned. The peace loving people of the country must come forward to stop such atrocities.”
State President of Jamat-e-Islami Hind, Mohammad Nazimuddin said, “After Independence some groups were not happy with Mahatma Gandhi and some of the freedom fighters because they stressed secularism and equal rights of all the citizens. Since then India has suffered many riots that claimed thousands of lives. Attacks on Christians are also part of it. Some communal groups are spreading hatred. Killing of Graham Staines and his sons is a tragic example of this.”
State president of Buddhist Mahasabha T. C. Rahul said, “Our country is multireligious and all the religions have been living here with peace and harmony for centuries. But now the hatred is spread against each other which is dangerous for the unity of our country.”
The fact finding report lists more than 300 attacks on Christians within a span of nine months during 2020-2021.
“Attack on minorities” is one of the main agendas of RSS-driven BJP government. What else can we expect from Modi-Shah???
These 300+ incidents are only the expressions of a deeper malady/trend/plot, whatever you call it from different perspectives. We have been alerted/cautioned/warned about it all for the last 6+ years. The Catholic leadership structures, CBCI – CRI and their affiliates have become inactive/ineffective/liabilities to say the least. Show one initiative or leadership directive in response to the current reality of the country as well as the well-scripted direction in which the country is moving. How to transform the present situation of liabilities to ASSETS is a matter of system thinking and strategic planning. I do not agree with anyone who says that we are helpless. As a community we are more powerful than any other to do what is good, just and right for the country and its people. Early action can prevent the agony of calamities which may create martyrs but not a nation of joy, peace and righteousness.
Mattersindia should verify the facts and figures before publishing such reports. For the behefit of public, they should come out with specific instances where christians are attacked and where police authorities are refusing to take action.
Nothing good will happen unless the Govt. is willing to punish the attackers . And the ruling party should take some interest to keep communal amity intact . The Hindu religion does not teach hatred or intolerance and that itself is a reason poor minorities who follow a different persuasion should not be attacked
It would help if MattersIndia give church – wise breakdown of these attacks. Are all these attacks on Catholics? Rajasthan is Congress ruled State not by often vilified BJP.
How many such cases FIR filed and status updates available