PRESS STATEMENT
New Delhi, 18th December 2014
We meet you at a time when the
entire world, every parent on earth, is grieving the loss of 132 innocent
children shot dead in Peshawar in Pakistan. That such brutality is seen in the
21st century is evidence of the dangers of fanaticism and extremism
hate and violence acting in the name of faith is a challenge to society at
large. We extend to the people of
Pakistan and specially its children our heartfelt condolences. We remain in
solidarity with them as we pray for the souls of the dead students.
We are reminded again of the
message of Jesus Christ to eschew hate, to work for peace, to forgive those who
hurt us, and to love our neighbours.
This Christmas season, therefore,
we come to you with a heavy heart and great concern of the sense of
apprehension and fear in our community at the incidents of violence against our
Churches and personnel in various parts of the country, and specially in
Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and now in the National
Capital Territory of Delhi where the St.
Sebastian’s Church in Dlishad Garden, East Delhi was torched in what we think
is an act of malicious arson on 1st December 2014.
The gutting of the St.
Sebastian’s Church, as well as the other incidents of targeted violence in
other parts of the country, speak of extreme police and administrative impunity
and disregard not only to the sentiments and religious feelings of our
community but also the guarantees of the Constitution of India.
These acts of violence do not
stand alone, nor are they isolated incidents. They are quite part of a series
of interconnected actions by various non-State actors closely associated with
the ruling dispensation. The official celebrations of a good governance day on
Christmas day as detailed in government circulars sent to educational
institutions throughout the country to organise compulsory events on a day that
is holy to us, Members of the Union Council of Ministers have called for
national laws against conversion, and a Common Civil Code, politically
targeting the Christian and Muslim communities without saying it in so many
words.
What is more dangerous, and
threat to national peace and harmony, is the well thought out campaign in the
name of Ghar Wapsi, which is organised
not just by fringe elements, but by senior members of Parliament
belonging to the ruling party. Their pronouncements question the identity and
patriotism of India’s several religious minorities. The fact that people are
being offered Below Poverty Line Cards
and other privileges within the domain of government adds to our fear that
these elements enjoy official patronage.
It is being made clear to the
minorities that while the Government won its mandate on a platform of
“development and good governance’, the radical groups see it is an endorsement
of their programme of hate and religious nationalism which they call Hindu
Rashtra. This is a blatant attempt to sabotage the Constitution of India that guarantees
freedom of faith, adhering to the United Nations Bill of Rights. Article 25 (i)
assures the freedom to every citizen of India to profess, practice and
propagate one’s religion and beliefs. This was the result of a great debate that
took place in the Constituent Assembly.
With its wonderful diversity and
ancient cultural, linguistic and ethnic identity, the State maintains equal
respect for all faiths, and for people who profess no faith. In a secular and
democratic India, there is no place for a state religion. India is not a theocracy.
Religion has no place in the national political discourse.
In the states where dubious and
ironically named Freedom of Religion Acts have been used against minorities, their
overwhelming powers have allowed the police and bureaucracy to harass, arrest and
punish clergy, religious workers and institutions. If that was not enough, the
non State actors and members of religious-political groups have felt empowered
to coerce and terrorise the people, often settling personal scores or indulging
in land grab.
The media may already be aware but, we would like to highlight some of
the recent incidents of targeted violence and attacks on Christians in the
country which we have already conveyed to the Prime Minister and Union Home
Minister in our memorandum:
On Sunday, 30th
November 2014, two house churches in Annupur district of Madhya Pradesh were
attacked. Chhattisgarh has particularly witnessed regular and repeated attacks
on the fundamental rights of the minority Christian community. Most recently,
according to the media and local sources, local Hindutva groups such as the VHP
are pressurising local Catholic missionaries to put up pictures of Goddess
Saraswati in their educational institutions. The Catholic schools are also
under pressure to rename the principals in their schools, as “Pracharya”, or
“Up-pracharya”, instead of the term “Father”, which is usually used.
Some of the other incidents
briefly outlined below are representative of the hostility and discrimination
being faced by Christians across India.
1.
Social
Boycott
·
The entry of and propaganda by non-Hindu
missionaries, especially Christians, is banned in more than 50 villages of
Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region by the local gram panchayats since late May.
·
In Deggarh district, Odisha several tribal Christian
families were excommunicated on 28 April allegedly at the behest of Hindu
extremists. The three Christian families were excommunicated and deprived from
enjoying common facilities of the village road, water and forest land because
of their faith in Christ. The well commonly used by the Christians was polluted
by adding filth to it. And the Christians have been forbidden to mix or talk to
anybody, to take part in any social functions or walk on the main road. The extremists also threatened to snatch away
the Govt. land allotted to the Christians, to cancel their BPL Cards and
demolish their houses if they do not renounce Christ.
2.
Physical
Assaults
·
On 16 June, a mob of religious extremists
brutally beat up Christians and 10 believers including two women who were later
rushed to the hospital in Sirisguda, Bastar town, Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh.
About 100 Christians who were denied rations for two months for their faith in
Christ were beaten up by a mob. At about
1 pm, Christians from 52 families came together before the district Food
Inspector office when the mob rushed in and started to beat the Christians
indiscriminately. The mob beat up the Christians with sticks, kicked and
punched them and hurled stones at those who were trying to escape from the scene.
Two women were pulled to the ground while the perpetrators stood on them and
hit their genital organs. No FIR was
registered against members of the mob.
·
Religious-political extremists locked up a
church on June 5 after they beat up a Christian family in Balwanazir,
Kaliyanganj, Bihar. The mob comprising of Hindu extremists beat up Sadanandan
Singh and his family for their faith in Christ in May and June and finally
locked up the church of the Indian Evangelical Team. Singh and his family were dragged on the road
and the entire family including two minor girls were beaten up mercilessly. The
extremists have locked up the church and told Singh that he is not allowed to
pray in the future in the village.
3.
Desecration
of and Restrictions on House Churches or Building Churches.
·
Local religious political groups threatened to
harm Pastor Bhikanlal Dhurvey several times for conducting prayer meetings in
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. However, the pastor continued to conduct worship
services and later started to build a prayer hall in his land. Subsequently,
the extremists filed a police complaint against the pastor of illegal
construction. The construction has since been stopped and prayers are now being
conducted in the homes of local Christians
·
On 18th
May in Kundupur, Karnataka the properties of two churches were allegedly
damaged by unidentified miscreants. An
ornamental pot at the entrance of the Holy Rosary church was broken and a
signpost leading to St. Antony Church in Koteshwar also was uprooted.
·
On 29 April, three chapels in Irinjalakuda
diocese were damaged after allegedly police cleared the way for the "Way
of the Cross' procession of the Saint Anthony's Catholic Church. Earlier, on 11
April, extremists had blocked the procession of St Antony's Catholic Church.
The police intervened and cleared the passage for the procession as this was
the traditional practise for several years and the local temple administration
has given permission for the same.
India is a land where different
religious faiths have long since flourished and our founding fathers made
special efforts to ensure that the rights of all are safeguarded irrespective
of our religious beliefs, gender or caste. India is committed to secularism and
any attempt to weaken the socio-religious fabric of the nation must be dealt
with swiftly and effectively.
We hope and pray that such
discrimination and targeted violence will be ended by strong political will and
administrative action. We the Christians who are a small religious community
need assurance from the government that we are protected and secure and safe in
our motherland.
We pray for our fellow citizens
and wish them great joy as we greet them this Christmas.
God bless India.
Signed
1. Archbishop
Anil Couto, Archbishop of Delhi
2. Archbishop
Kuriakose Bharanikulangara, Bishop of the Faridabad Syro-Malabar Catholic
Eparchy
3. Bishop
Jacob Barnabas, Syro-Malankara Catholic church
4. Archbishop
Youhanon Mar Demetros, Malankara Orthodox Church of India
5. Bishop
Abraham Mar Paulus, Bishop of Marthoma Church
6. Bishop
Subodh Mondal, Bishop of Methodist Church of India
7. Bishop
Samantroy, Moderator, CNI
8. Bishop
Simon John, Bishop of Believers Church
9. Dr.
John Dayal, former National President, all India catholic Union, Member, NIC
10. Rev.
Richard Howell, General Secretary, Evangelical Fellowship of India and
secretary of National United Christian Forum
11. Rev
Vijayesh Lal, Director Religious Liberty Commission, EFI
