ASIA/INDIA - Hindu extremists disrupt meetings among Christians

Thursday, 29 September 2016 religious minorities   religious freedom   hinduism   violence   human rights  

Bangalore (Agenzia Fides) - A meeting on the Gospel was interrupted with violence and a stand with Bibles and Christian material were destroyed: is the latest violence perpetrated by Hindu extremists against Christians in India. As Fides learned, in the first episode, the home meeting promoted by Pentecostal Pastor Daniel, in Shimoga district (Karnataka state), was blocked by Hindu extremists who complained about the alleged proselytism and called the police who stopped the Pastor and the faithful.
The second episode occurred during the celebration of the "Krishi Mela" in Dharward, always in Karnataka, where, among the various stands, there was one where Christians spoke freely to the people, announcing the Good News and presenting the Bible printed in Hindi. Twenty extremists arrived and began carrying out acts of vandalism, attacking the volunteers and destroying Bibles.
Speaking to Fides, Sajan K. George, leader of the "Global Council of Indian Christians" (GCIC) condemned the violence against Christians, noting that "radical elements disturb social and religious order and intend to cause inter-communal tensions in society. Praying or distributing Bibles is not a criminal act and is a freedom guaranteed by the Constitution". (PA-NC) (Agenzia Fides 29/09/2016)


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