New Delhi: Over 200 prominent individuals, including Tushar Gandhi, Annie Raja, Father Cedric Prakash, John Dayal and Shabnam Hashmi, have signed a joint statement expressing grave concern over the increasing persecution of Christians in India. The statement highlights the alarming rise in violence and harassment against the Christian community and calls for urgent action to address the issue.
“The persecution of Christians in India has been a growing concern over the past few years. According to various reports, there has been a significant increase in violence and harassment against Christians, particularly in rural areas,” the statement reads.
In this context, the signatories questioned recent engagements between senior Christian leaders and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, particularly during Christmas programmes. They see these interactions as attempts to legitimise the government’s inaction on protecting Christians.
“It’s surprising that despite the growing persecution of Christians, prominent members of the Christian hierarchy have chosen to engage with Prime Minister Modi, who has been criticised for his inaction in protecting the rights of Christians. Mr Modi has been seen in recent days with members of the hierarchy at Christmas programmes. He is being invited on 23 December 2024 by the CBCI at a Christmas celebration in New Delhi,” the statement adds.
Steep rise in anti-Christian violence
The statement notes that the persecution of Christians and Muslims has surged in recent years, driven by the resurgence of Hindutva nationalism, which has exacerbated anti-minority sentiment. Religious nationalist groups such as the Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad have been accused of instigating violence against Christians across multiple states.
Citing data from the Evangelical Fellowship of India and the United Christian Forum (UCF), the statement says:
- In 2021, 327 incidents of violence against Christians were reported.
- In 2022, over 486 incidents were recorded, including 115 cases of physical violence and 357 instances of intimidation and harassment.
“The UCF monitored trend listed 127 incidents in the year 2014, when the Modi government took over power. Presently, January 2024 to November 2024, India has recorded 745 incidents of Christian citizens being attacked for their faith,” the statement added.
“Churches and Christian institutions have been specifically targeted in many incidents. In 2021, at least 15 churches were vandalised or set on fire across India. In 2022, several churches were attacked, including a church in Delhi that was vandalised by a group of Hindu extremists. The May 3rd Manipur riots witnessed the destruction of over 200 churches and countless lives lost,” the statement further read.
Legislation and government inaction under fire
The statement criticises the government and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party for failing to safeguard minority rights. It alleges that Hindu nationalist groups accused of orchestrating violence receive tacit support from the government. Additionally, the misuse of anti-conversion laws enacted by 13 states has been highlighted as a tool to target Christians.
“In 2021, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) placed India on its ‘Countries of Particular Concern’ list, citing the country’s ‘systematic, ongoing, and egregious’ persecution of religious minorities,” the statement added.
The statement concludes with a call to action, urging the government and Christian leadership to address the growing threats faced by the Christian community in the country. “We call upon the Christian leadership to voice these concerns and hold the prime minister as head of the government accountable for the protection of Christians in India.”
