The religious leaders launch an appeal to the president and prime minister
Shocked by the wave of attacks over the Christmas period, over 400 Christian leaders and 30 church groups in India have made an urgent appeal to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling for immediate action to address the issue of violence against the Christians. AsiaNews writes it.
The initiative came after at least 14 incidents of violence, threats and disorder targeted Christian gatherings across the country during the Christmas period, the promoters wrote in a press release. Among the main signatories of the appeal are the evangelical bishops Thomas Abraham and David Onesimu, the Methodist bishop Joab Lohara, the Jesuits Fr. Cedric Prakash and Fr. Lousi Prakash. Among the most serious incidents in the state of Haryana, in the district of Rohtak, Hindutva organizations disturbed Christian gatherings on Christmas day; in Ambala they interrupted a celebration and went so far as to “beat women and children”, under the accusation of “forced conversions”. Three members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad disrupted Christmas celebrations at a public school in Palakkad, Kerala, and verbally threatened the teachers. On December 26, in the Balasore district of Orissa, members of the New Life Church were attacked while celebrating Christmas with the family of the Pentecostal pastor; a mob of local extremists attacked the gathering and abused them verbally and physically, while the crowd shouted accusations of forced conversion. In the text of the appeal to the highest Indian authorities, the Christian leaders express “deep concern about the alarming trend of increasing intolerance and hostile acts”. The not yet definitive data for 2024 speak of over 720 episodes of violence against Christians reported to the Evangelical Fellowship of India and 760 cases registered by the United Christian Forum. Christian leaders also urge the prime minister to take a visible role in promoting peace and reconciliation in Manipur, where violence has left over 250 dead, 360 churches destroyed and thousands displaced since May 2023.
