Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
New Delhi (Agenzia Fides) - Make known the plight of India's Christians account of their religious faith and the escalation of violence against them: call for an end to acts of discrimination and threats and a serious investigation to find those responsible; call for more respect of the Indian Constitution's secular and tolerant attitude. This was the purpose of a letter addressed to the President of India Pratibha Devisingh Patil, by the Global Council of Indian Christians, GCIC, whose members are of various Christian denominations and with a large base of lay associations.
“We are gravely concerned about the escalating violence being perpetrated against Christians in the state of Karnataka for the past 20 months, and we have evidence to clearly link the same to the change in the government at the state level”, the Letter starts indicating as responsible for the climate of impunity towards acts of violence committed in the name of Hindutva, the Baratiya Janata Party.
The Council laments violation of the right to freedom of religious and conscience guaranteed by the Constitution. It recalls the Christian Rights Rally in Bangalore held on 22nd June
with thousands protesting against violence in Kashmir, Gujarat, Orissa Karnataka and other states of India. Many of the participants were non Christians who joined to defend the right to freedom of belief for every citizen of India.
The Letter reads: “Your Excellency, the Christian community - which continues to be a tiny 2.04% of this nation's population according to the 2001 Census data - has been at the forefront of service to the massive numbers of poor and needy in our country. Our patriotism and commitment to the nation has been tangibly expressed in the form of committed service to the deprived and disadvantaged sections of society in the fields of education, healthcare, and training in vocational services far i excess to our share in the population… Christians are among the largest groups intervening with people living with HIV/AIDS”, and often guarantee education in areas not reached by state schools.
“Despite this track record of committed service to the Indian people, Christians are constantly referred to by their detractors as foreigners and as people having allegiance to forces outside the country. How long do we need to keep on proving our credentials as full citizens, peace-loving, law-abiding and committed to the advancement of the nation? The Council asks.
GCIC laments a political class which has fed tension in society making room for people who want to demonise the Christian community and guaranteeing impunity for the perpetrators of the violence.
The letter denies accusations of “forced conversions”, denounces anti-conversion laws which violate the freedom of conscience of the individual and observes also distortion on the part of the media which distort the truth.
GCIC calls for "an independent investigation into the atrocities against the Christian minorities in India, and especially in Karnataka in the recent past, by a specially empowered group in a speedy and time-bound manner and for the constitution with guarantees freedom of religion and conscience to be respected. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 24 /9/2007 righe 36 parole 378)
