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.
This story was originally published in thewire.in. Read the full story here.