By Teams
8/22/2024 India (International Christian Concern) — Many Christians in the Kandhamal district of Central India’s State of Odisha have fled their homes to neighboring provinces, while those who remain are living in fear and uncertainty. The reason? Hindu nationalist organizations announced a massive rally to commemorate the death anniversary of a Hindu ascetic this weekend.
Promoters of the rally, set to take place from this Saturday through Monday, Aug. 26, have made public announcements designed to whip up Hindu nationalistic fervor, asking people to gather in large numbers and bring weapons with them to rally, which will observe the 16th anniversary of Swamy Lakhmananand Saraswati.
The weapons are the main cause of alarm and the reason for the temporary exodus of Christians, including pastors from the district, who fear being targeted.
This rally is expected to bring about half a million Hindus to Saraswati’s 8-acre retreat center, located in the dense forest area of the tribal-dominated Kandhamal district of Odisha.
Unknown assassins murdered Saraswati on Aug. 24, 2008. Right-wing Hindus have maintained that it was the work of Christians, an accusation that Christians have vehemently denied.
This story was originally published in persecution.org. Read the full story here.