Indian Christian body laments attacks by Hindu extremists

"There have been 500 reported incident of anti-Christian violence in India in the past 23 months," asserts Dr Sajan K George, National President Global Council of Indian Christians in his message for International Human Rights Day

The advocacy group based in Bangalore said that influential Hindu organisations such as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, or the National Volunteers' Organization (RSS), and the Bharatiya Janata Party have been promoting attacks against Christian workers.

"The attacks on Christians have been largely the sinister religious hatred of the Hinduvta forces, under the umbrella organisation of the Sangh Parivar like the RSS and the BJP," it said.

Quoting one of the constitutional rights that declares every Indian citizen the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, GCIC questioned why seven states in India had introduced the Anti Conversion Laws which ban 'forced' religious conversions.

This, the GCIC said, is in violation of Article 25 of the Indian Constitution of India, which guarantees everyone the right and the freedom to preach, practice and propagate his or her religion.

GCIC expressed grave concern over the renewed activities of communal forces, the latest manifestation of which was the attack on two groups of sisters and brothers belonging to the order of the Missionaries of Charity.

It also pointed out the series of escalating brutalities inflicted on hapless individuals and attacks on worshippers in India.

However, "While the missionaries are quite willing to pardon the evil doers, from the point of view of peace in society, such disruptive forces cannot be allowed to play free," GCIC said. "They have already done enough to sow seeds of discord in the name of religion and caste. This type of threat to internal freedom is worse than terrorist attacks."