About 7,000 Christians marched on the streets of India’s commercial hub Mumbai, demanding the arrest and punishment of a pro-Hindu lawmaker who recently declared huge bounties for attacking and killing pastors and missionaries. The marchers chanted slogans and displayed banners during the July 11 rally at Azad Maidan grounds in Mumbai, the capital of the western Indian state of Maha-rashtra, asking authorities to slap criminal charges against Gopich and Padalkar from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The rally was organized by the ecumenical group, Sakal Christi Samj Maharashtra (All Maharashtra Christian Coali-tion), and joined by members of various Christian organiza-tions, said Cyril Dara, the coalition’s convener.
During the demonstration, Christian leaders condemned Padalkar for disregarding the law and inciting violence agai-nst the Christian community. “Padalkar publicly announced the bounties a fortnight ago, which has outraged and deeply hurt our religious sentiments,” Dara told on July 11.
He said the protesting Christians also demanded the expulsion of the legislator from the party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “This action will help curb future atrocities on the Christian community, like the vandalism of churches and attacks on religious leaders. The community needs protection from the government and action against the culprit,” the coali-tion said in a statement.
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