UK Christians to march for end to sectarian violence in India
Posted: Wednesday, October 1, 2008, 8:44 (BST)
Growing violence against Christians in India has now spread to 12 states, according to the All India Christian Council, while 57 have been killed and 50,000 driven from their homes in Orissa state alone amid attacks by Hindu extremists.
A march has been called in London on Saturday to present a petition to Gordon Brown and to the Indian High Commission, calling on the Indian Government to intervene to stop the escalating violence.
India's national government is threatening to impose emergency rule on two states unless they stop anti-Christian violence which has raged for six weeks.
The federal government issued an official warning to Orissa and Karnataka, accusing the Hindu nationalist BJP which rules both states of failing to curb the violence. Unless the two state governments take decisive action, 'President's rule' will be introduced, in accordance with Article 356 of the constitution.
Attacks by Hindu extremists' have now spread to 12 states, according to the All India Christian Council.
On just one day, September 20, a Christian man was hacked to death by militants as he tried to reach a relief camp in the town of Phulbani in Orissa's Kandhamal district. And in Karnataka, militants ransacked four churches, three in the city of Bangalore and one in Kodagu district. Seven Christians were accused of 'forced conversion' in Thalikare.
Looting, arson, forced conversions to Hinduism and even murders continue to be reported.
The situation is now "getting out of hand", according to the All India Christian Council.
On September 20, Christians were joined by politicians from several different parties at a protest rally in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, condemning the violence.
Hindu extremists launched their anti-Christian campaign after one of their spiritual leaders Laxmanananda Saraswati was murdered in August. Hindus have blamed Christians for his death, even after Maoists admitted responsibility.
Release is requesting that Christians continue to pray for the return of law and order across India and that governments of affected states will take firm action to protect Christians. They also ask for Christians to pray that the violence will help highlight the plight of India's persecuted Christians and make it more difficult for militants to attack with impunity.
About the march:
Marchers will gather in Richmond Terrace off Victoria Embankment at 2pm, for the rally staged by India Christian Concern. For more details, contact coordinator William Sidhu on 07958 281230.
The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Sunday, October 5, 2008, 8:41 (BST)
The hindus are just giving excuse of forcible conversions wereas the truth is they themselves are involved in conversion activities around the world by ISKCON, you may have noticed this ISKCON in your locality and around the world. The main mission of ISKCON is to convert white skinned christians into hindus by introducing tricks like yoga, meditation etc. etc. they have converted huge amount of white skinned christians into hindus. So their idea is clear now they are killing muslims and christians and they want this world to turn into hinduism. WAKE UP christians. WAKE UP muslims. This is the high time now. World christian nations including America should come and raise voice against this idealogy, coz if not now it would be never. We would find no single person worshiping the true god jesus our lord.
pralas, india
Added: Saturday, October 4, 2008, 7:06 (BST)
Its about time Christian nations took notice of what is going on in India. The BJP Hindu fundamentalist leaders should be hauled up in the international courts like the Serb leaders were. Furthermore, Christian nations should come out with a warning that they will break off all ties with India if the BJP fundamentalists were voted to power by Indians here again. That should include outsourcing business activities to India also.
Ravi Kumar,
Chennai City,
India
Ravi Kumar, Chennai City, India
Added: Thursday, October 2, 2008, 10:10 (BST)
If the world community won't take the necessary actions, India will turn as
a country of "Christian genocide" of this century. The crooked politicians
have created this problem by instigating anti-Christian emotions among the
few radical Hindus, and they have taken a path to eradicate the Christians
through intimidations and brute force. Most of the Christian converts in India,
especially the northern side are from the Dalit class. It makes a great
headache for the high class Hindus that the lowest class is getting
educated in the Christian institutions and seeing the light; both in social
uplift and Christian faith. Even though there is ferocious attacks on the
Christian community in most of the States, God is sending a great revival
in India. This is the most urgent time to pray and act on behalf of the
minority Christian community of India.
A.S.Mathew, Ringgold, U.S.A.
