ASIA/INDIA - Report on violence against Christians in the state of Karnataka

Bangalore (Agenzia Fides) - It is the state with the sad record of the most violence inflicted on Christian communities: Karanataka State in southern India is known for one of India's the high international level technology districts Bangalore, but it is hitting the front pages for numerous episodes of violence against Christians and Christian property in the territory. This was affirmed in a report issued by the ecumenical Global Council of Indian Christians based in Bangalore composed of Christians of many different confessions, many of the lay people, which protects the rights of individuals and religious minorities. The Report says that have been 87 episodes of anti Christian violence in Karanataka in the past 20 months, followed by the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh with 37 cases. The Report lists 464 cases of anti-Christian violence in all India in the past 20 months, denouncing spreading Hindu extremism which attacks without motive believers of other faiths.
GCIC sent the report, containing testimony and documentation, to the National Human Rights Commission, calling in the central government to guarantee religious freedom for Christian citizens. The Council affirms: “Since the nationalist Baratya Janata Party joined the coalition which governs Karnataka, there has been growing impunity towards actions carried out in name of the Hindutva ideology ”. Many attacks, the Report affirms, were against people in prayer at home, in church or chapel.
Recently, expressing deep concern, the Global Council of Indian Christians had warned of ever more frequent attacks on Indian Christians and an escalation of violence against them (see Fides 24/9/2007). (PA) (Agenzia Fides 23/10/2007 righe 31 parole 312)