Narendra Modi must take steps to protect India's religious minorities from attack

Religious minorities in India have not forgotten the waves of communal violence that killed thousands in the previous decade, and neither have human rights organisations.

As India gets used to a new party and a new leader at the helm, there are concerns that religious minorities will find themselves the losers of the sea change.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed a historic victory in the general election earlier this month, taking over half the seats in the Lok Sabha, the Indian parliament's lower house.

But Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) says the party has close ties to the Hindu nationalist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which views the Christian and Muslim minorities as threats to national integrity.

The RSS gave Narendra Modi its strong backing in the run-up to the election and Release International notes with equal concern that many of the Hindu extremists who have carried out repeated attacks on India's Christian minority belong to the far-right group.

Modi is the former chief minister of Gujarat State, where around 2,000 people, mainly Muslims, were killed in communal violence in 2002. Modi was head of the state during this time and has never managed to shake off accusations of complicity, including that he ordered police not to intervene in the attacks.

In 2008, Hindu nationalists killed more than 120 Christians and forced some 50,000 people from their homes in Odisha state.

Modi's rise to power coincides with an increasingly hostile climate for Christians in some parts of India, with seven states now having anti-conversion laws in place. Release warns the laws have curtailed church activities and that even in states that do not have them, pastors have been accused of "forcible conversion".

The president of the National Congress of Indian Christians, CA Daniel, predicts this trend will only grow with the BJP leading the country.

He told International Christian Concern after the BJP's election win that Christians were "not safe" under the party.

"There will be stringent rules and legislation restricting Christians and the exercise of the freedom of faith," he said.

The dust is settling after the BJP's landslide victory, but the concerns remain. The All India Christian Council has said that the rhetoric so far has "provided little reassurance that security and freedom for Christians and other minorities would be high on the list of priorities for the new administration".

And CSW is calling upon the incoming government to adopt measures that will promote freedom of religion and belief.

It is asking the BJP to make good on its election manifesto promise to preserve the culture of minorities, protect their sites, and "facilitate the setting up of a permanent inter-faith consultative mechanism to promote harmony and trust, under the auspices of religious leaders".

CSW's Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said, "We urge the incoming Indian administration to actively promote and defend the right to freedom of religion or belief for India's diverse communities.

"We continue to advocate for the implementation of the recommendations made in the 2008 of the former UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, including the need for the authorities to take quick and effective measures to protect members of religious minorities from any attacks and to step up efforts to prevent communal violence.

"Efforts to work towards the introduction of a comprehensive framework to deal adequately with the consequences of communal and targeted violence should continue. We also continue to call for the establishment of an effective framework for the protection of human rights defenders across the country."

The $400 Mouse I Thought Was Ridiculously Expensive—Until It Changed How I Work
$0 $0
50% OFF
All-Weather HDPE Plastic Adirondack Chair with Cup Holder – Navy Blue
$70 $139.99
50% OFF
7-Color LED Red Light Therapy Mask for Face and Anti-Aging
$29.99 $59.99
49% OFF
Cordless Vacuum Cleaner - 480W/45Kpa Powerful Stick Vacuum with LED Smart Touch Screen
$55.99 $109.99
20% OFF
Hypoallergenic Pet Wipes for Dogs & Cats - 400 Count Extra Large Coconut Scented Grooming Wipes
$24.79 $30.99
49% OFF
MANSPOT Electric Pubic Hair Trimmer - Waterproof Body and Groin Shaver for Men and Women (Black)
$20.39 $40
25% OFF
Lick-Safe Dog Paw and Nose Balm Stick - All-Natural Moisturizer with Coconut Oil for Dry, Cracked Pads and Snout
$11.69 $15.59
77% OFF
Men's Quick Dry Moisture Wicking Polo Shirt - High Elasticity Slim Fit Athletic Top (Runs Small)
$6.99 $29.99
46% OFF
Men's Running Shorts with Zipper Pockets - Lightweight, Quick-Dry, Multi-Sport
$12.95 $23.99
50% OFF
NEWFAST NF-RE523 AC1200 WiFi Extender - 1200Mbps Dual Band Signal Booster & Internet Repeater
$18.5 $36.99
48% OFF
G Gradual Men's 7-inch Workout Running Shorts - Lightweight, Quick-Dry, Comfort
$12.91 $24.99
30% OFF
NOVETE Under Sink Water Filter - 3 Years, 30,000 Gallons, High-Efficiency Filtration
$41.99 $59.99
50% OFF
HDPE All-Weather Adirondack Chair with Built-In Cup Holder - Tool-Free Assembly (Grey)
$69.99 $139.99
60% OFF
HOMETUK Clear Plastic Storage Bins with Dividers - 3-Pack Stackable Acrylic Organizer Containers for Fridge and Pantry
$19.99 $49.99
58% OFF
G Gradual Men's Fishing Shirt - UPF 50+ Lightweight Short Sleeve Button Down with Zipper Pockets
$14.99 $35.99
55% OFF
Everyfun 60" Rectangular Platform Tree Swing - 700lbs Heavy Duty Adjustable Outdoor Swing (Colorful)
$49.99 $110.99
61% OFF
Ekouaer Women's Casual Loose Jumpsuit - One-Piece Printed Sleeveless Wide Leg Romper with Pockets
$14.99 $37.99
36% OFF
Men's Athletic Running Shorts with Zipper Pockets - Lightweight & Quick Dry
$12.74 $19.99
61% OFF
Modern Ceiling Fan with Light and Remote - Reversible Quiet DC Motor
$69.3 $179.99
50% OFF
MOOKA H13 True HEPA Air Purifier for Home Large Room - 1076 sq ft Odor Eliminator
$39.97 $79.95
Newsletter Stay up to date with Christian Today
News
Christians praying for the nation and next prime minister after Starmer resigns
Christians praying for the nation and next prime minister after Starmer resigns

"This is a time to lament the state of our politics and its impact on the nation," says the UK Evangelical Alliance.

Archbishop of Canterbury meets Palestinian Christian released from prison
Archbishop of Canterbury meets Palestinian Christian released from prison

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, has met with Layan Nasir, a 26-year-old Palestinian Christian recently released from prison, during her pilgrimage to the Holy Land. 

Christian artist removed from her own exhibition over transgender remarks settles with council
Christian artist removed from her own exhibition over transgender remarks settles with council

A Christian artist who was removed from her own exhibition after expressing opposition to childhood gender transition has reached a legal settlement with Watford Borough Council. 

Are witchcraft and paganism a threat to Christianity in modern Britain? 
Are witchcraft and paganism a threat to Christianity in modern Britain? 

What is emerging across Britain is not a wholesale return to pre-Christian religion. Nor is it evidence that large numbers of people are abandoning Christianity in favour of Wicca or Paganism. The reality is both less dramatic and more revealing.

Today's Top Deals

The $400 Mouse I Thought Was Ridiculously Expensive—Until It Changed How I Work

$0
$0 0% OFF
View Deal

All-Weather HDPE Plastic Adirondack Chair with Cup Holder – Navy Blue

$70
$139.99 50% OFF
View Deal

7-Color LED Red Light Therapy Mask for Face and Anti-Aging

$29.99
$59.99 50% OFF
View Deal

Cordless Vacuum Cleaner - 480W/45Kpa Powerful Stick Vacuum with LED Smart Touch Screen

$55.99
$109.99 49% OFF
View Deal

Hypoallergenic Pet Wipes for Dogs & Cats - 400 Count Extra Large Coconut Scented Grooming Wipes

$24.79
$30.99 20% OFF
View Deal

MANSPOT Electric Pubic Hair Trimmer - Waterproof Body and Groin Shaver for Men and Women (Black)

$20.39
$40 49% OFF
View Deal

Lick-Safe Dog Paw and Nose Balm Stick - All-Natural Moisturizer with Coconut Oil for Dry, Cracked Pads and Snout

$11.69
$15.59 25% OFF
View Deal

Men's Quick Dry Moisture Wicking Polo Shirt - High Elasticity Slim Fit Athletic Top (Runs Small)

$6.99
$29.99 77% OFF
View Deal

Men's Running Shorts with Zipper Pockets - Lightweight, Quick-Dry, Multi-Sport

$12.95
$23.99 46% OFF
View Deal

NEWFAST NF-RE523 AC1200 WiFi Extender - 1200Mbps Dual Band Signal Booster & Internet Repeater

$18.5
$36.99 50% OFF
View Deal

G Gradual Men's 7-inch Workout Running Shorts - Lightweight, Quick-Dry, Comfort

$12.91
$24.99 48% OFF
View Deal

NOVETE Under Sink Water Filter - 3 Years, 30,000 Gallons, High-Efficiency Filtration

$41.99
$59.99 30% OFF
View Deal

HDPE All-Weather Adirondack Chair with Built-In Cup Holder - Tool-Free Assembly (Grey)

$69.99
$139.99 50% OFF
View Deal

HOMETUK Clear Plastic Storage Bins with Dividers - 3-Pack Stackable Acrylic Organizer Containers for Fridge and Pantry

$19.99
$49.99 60% OFF
View Deal

G Gradual Men's Fishing Shirt - UPF 50+ Lightweight Short Sleeve Button Down with Zipper Pockets

$14.99
$35.99 58% OFF
View Deal

Everyfun 60" Rectangular Platform Tree Swing - 700lbs Heavy Duty Adjustable Outdoor Swing (Colorful)

$49.99
$110.99 55% OFF
View Deal

Ekouaer Women's Casual Loose Jumpsuit - One-Piece Printed Sleeveless Wide Leg Romper with Pockets

$14.99
$37.99 61% OFF
View Deal

Men's Athletic Running Shorts with Zipper Pockets - Lightweight & Quick Dry

$12.74
$19.99 36% OFF
View Deal

Modern Ceiling Fan with Light and Remote - Reversible Quiet DC Motor

$69.3
$179.99 61% OFF
View Deal

MOOKA H13 True HEPA Air Purifier for Home Large Room - 1076 sq ft Odor Eliminator

$39.97
$79.95 50% OFF
View Deal