As many as 300 attacks on Christians have taken place in India in the past nine months, says a report of a fact-finding team. The report titled, “Christians Under Attack in India,” was released January 18 at a press conference in Jaipur, capital of the northwestern Indian state of Rajasthan.
The meet was organized by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights, United Christian Form, United Against Hate and Jaipur Catholic diocese at St. Anselm’s school in Jaipur’s Malviyanagar locality. Speaking on the attacks, Bishop Oswald Lewis of Jaipur noted that India is a country where every religion is respected and their followers have been living together with peace and harmony for centuries.
But in the past few years the minority groups have been targeted especially Christians and Muslims. It is being done by some fringe groups to destabilize the unity of the country,” the Catholic prelate bemoaned.
Bishop Lewis also said, “It is sad to see that a community that has been offering its service to everyone in the country especially the poor and marginalized, has become the target. Such attacks are on increase. Besides, the inaction of the government encourages such groups who go unpunished. The government must take stern actions against them to preserve the unity and democracy of the country.”
The Rajasthan state president of the Association for Protection of Civil Rights, Advocate Saiyad Saadat Ali said, “Our country is a secular country where everyone has the right to profess and propagate their faith. But there are some people who want to snatch away from their rights. Since some days there has been continues attacks on Christians which must be condemned. The peace loving people of the country must come forward to stop such atrocities.”