Peaceful demonstration at a landmark in the capital to draw attention to the increase in hostile actions by Hindu nationalists. In 2022 alone, 598 episodes were recorded, almost two per day. A memorandum was sent to President Murmu calling for the establishment of a national commission to deal with the phenomenon.
New Delhi () – Representatives of more than 100 churches and Christian organizations organized a peaceful protest on Sunday, February 19, at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi – the site of major demonstrations in the capital – to draw the attention of the government, the Supreme Court and civil society on the sharp increase in hostility, hatred and violence against Christians in many states. Particular concern was expressed about the situation in Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka and Jharkhand.
According to the United Christian Forum (UCF) in 2022 alone there were 598 episodes of violence against Christians in 21 different Indian states, almost two per day. These incidents include intimidation, mob attacks, brutal assaults, vandalism of places of worship, sexual assaults, church closures, social ostracism, denial of burial to the dead, and false reporting under forced conversion laws.
The United Christian Forum recalled that, in more than seventy years of Indian independence, Christian citizens have organized only five unitary protest demonstrations in the national capital. The sharp increase in hatred and violence against the community, therefore, was what made it necessary to carry out this demonstration.
Many participants tied black ribbons on their arms during the protest to denounce the seriousness of what is happening. “Under our Constitution, we are free to practice our faith. I don’t know why they attack us. The government is not doing enough against these attacks, it is sad that they do not support us…”, said Father Arul Anthony.
The president of the United Christian Forum, Michael William, announced the submission of a memorandum on violence against Christians to the president of India, Droupadi Murmu. The document calls for the establishment of a national commission headed by a retired Supreme Court justice to address problems of “selective violence” against Christians.
