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Showing posts with label christians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label christians. Show all posts
February 09, 2024
India: Letter to the Prime Minister on lack of representation of Christians in National Commission for Minorities from CPI MP Binoy Viswam
Binoy Viswam
Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha)
To,
Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister, Government of India
Respected Shri Narendra Modi ji,
Date: 9th February, 2024
I write to you in the backdrop of your meeting with Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil and Archbishop Kuriakose Bharanikulangara, in the presence of two Union Ministers, Shri Rajeev Chandrashekhar and V. Muralidharan in the Parliament Hosue today. On earlier occasions too, your outreach and meetings with Christian Bishops and business leaders, mainly from Kerala and the North East, were much discussed. According to the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, Chairperson, Vice- Chairperson and members of the National Commission for Minorities are to be nominated from the minority communities only. However, the Christian Community remains without representation in the National Commission for Minorities and matters pertaining to the well-being of the community go unheard in the National Commission for Minorities. This absence is a violation of the spirit of the the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 and does injustice to the Christian community of the country.
It needs stating here that Christians are the second largest minority group in the country with population spread all-over the country. They form a major population group in my home state of Kerala. Christians communities were targeted recently by hooligans in many instances and Churches and Schools were harmed. In Manipur, I myself could see the violence, arson and attacks Churches and schools faced. In such a situation, no Christian representation in the National Commission for Minorities deprives the community of the protection of an important institution of our democracy. In this context, I urge you to take necessary action to fill the vacant position in the National Commission for Minorities as soon as possible so Christians of the country could avail the protection under the the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. In the absence such an action, your outreach attempts to the Christian community will be construed as empty gestures with narrow political motivations, devoid of any genuine feeling for the rights of the community.
Yours sincerely
Binoy Viswam
Leader of CPI Parliamentary Party & Secretary, CPI Kerala
January 05, 2024
India: Christmas Celebration with the PM is Not in Our Name! (4 January 2024)
Not In Our Name!
Christmas Celebration with the PM is Not in Our Name!
We are in the Christmas Season: a time when we are all called to internalize and actualize the gifts of joy, love, peace, truth, justice and hope which Jesus our Saviour offers to us!
Today we also need to take legitimate pride in the fact that Christians in India have contributed significantly to the country: in the freedom struggle, as members of the Constituent Assembly, and ever since independence, in every sphere of public life particularly in the educational, medical, social, cultural and political sectors. The services of the Christian community to the poor and marginalized, the excluded and the exploited, irrespective of caste and creed, is unparalleled in the nation today. This fact has been duly and consistently acknowledged by citizens from all walks of life.
However, in the recent past, particularly since 2014, Christians in India have been victims of continued attacks and vilification from members of the ruling regime, all over the country. Christians and Christian schools and institutions have been hounded and harassed, their places of worship destroyed, they have been denied their ordinary rights as citizens and been subject to denigration and demonization. The anti-conversion laws which have been put into place in BJP-ruled States are used as weapons against the fundamental right to preach, practise and propagate one’s religion. Celebrations in schools have been stopped and Christians have been arrested without any warrant and put behind bars for no offence of theirs.
Since 3rdMay 2023, the Christians of Manipur have been subject to constant attacks which still continues unabated and with apparent approval from the BJP Governments both in the State and at the Centre.
In the wake of all this, it is ironic that the Prime Minister hosted around 100 Christian representatives of different denominations on Christmas morning for a celebration. While it is certainly within his right as Prime Minister to host a reception for whomsoever, he wishes one naturally would question the intention of this reception when he has not condemned a single attack on the Christians, under his Prime Ministership. Interestingly, while he praised Jesus Christ and waxed eloquent about the services of the Christian community, he did not share remorse or empathy for the situation of the Christians in the country today
Those invited to the Christmas reception were a select group of Christians. While the invitation was from the Prime Minister, here was an opportunity for them to courteously decline the invite in the light of what has been happening to the Christians in Manipur and elsewhere.
Hence, their acceptance of this invite was not in our name!
The Christian representatives, who spoke, thanked the Prime Minister profusely for many things! The hard truth is that the Prime Minister and his Government have consistently disregarded their constitutional mandate, be it to the minorities, the Adivasis, the Dalits, the backward castes, the farmers, labourers, migrants, etc.
Hence, their gratitude to the Prime Minister was not in our name!
When these Christian representatives spoke at the reception, they were giving a tacit approval to the omission and commission of this government.
Hence, their words were not in our name!
India today fares extremely badly on every global index be it in the economic, educational, health or social sphere. By their lack of prophetic courage to highlight the grim realities in the country today, these Christian representatives publicly betrayed the Gospel of Jesus and His values of truth, justice, joy, love, dignity and peace. Through their culpable silence, they failed to uphold the values enshrined in the Constitution of India.
Hence, their silence was not in our name!
Today we the Christians of India together with conscious and committed citizens pledge to protect and promote the Constitution, Country and Citizens of India and to work with and work for all those who are victims of an unjust, insincere and authoritarian regime.
More than THREE THOUSAND INDIAN CHRISTIANS from ALL walks of life representing every section of society have ENDORSED this statement
The signatories include:
Derek O’Brien: MP, Member of Parliament - All India Trinamool Congress
M.G. Devashayam IAS - Retired
Mr. John Shilsi IPS – Retired
Dr Astrid Lobo-Gajiwala
Ms Flavia Agnes
Ms. Pamela Philipose
Ms. Minakshi Singh
Sr Patsy Khan
Fr. M.J. George SJ ( Rome)
Fr. Xavier Jeyaraj SJ (Rome)
Mr. Rajan Solomon
Fr. Anand IMS
Sr. Mudita Sodder RSCJ
Fr. Paulson Veliyannoor, CMF
Sr Molly Fernandes
Capt. Joseph C. D’Souza , Marine Consultant
( the complete list of signatories is attached additionally)
Further details from
Dr John Dayal (9811021072 and john.dayal[at]gmail.com )
Dr. Prakash Louis SJ (8210947749 and prakashlouis2010[at]gmail.com )
Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ (9824034536 and cedricprakash[at]gmail.com )
4 January 2024
February 11, 2023
January 07, 2023
India: In Bastar, an RSS campaign led by a BJP leader stoked violence against Christian Adivasis | Malini Subramaniam
scroll.in
In Bastar, an RSS campaign led by a BJP leader stoked violence against Christian Adivasis
There was a clear build-up to the worst ever wave of violence against Christian believers in the region that has led many to leave their homes.
Malini Subramaniam https://scroll.in/article/1041348/in-bastar-an-rss-campaign-led-by-a-bjp-leader-stoked-violence-against-christian-adivasis
January 06, 2023
South Asia Forum for Freedom of Religion or Belief Condemns the Violence on Christians in Chhattisgarh!
South Asia Forum for Freedom of Religion or Belief Condemns the Violence on Christians in Chhattisgarh!
The
South Asia Forum for Freedom of Religion or Belief (SAFFORB) strongly
condemns violence against the Christian residents of numerous villages
of Narayanpur and Kondagaon districts in the state of Chhattisgarh.
There is an organised campaign to forcibly convert Christian Adivasis to
Hindu religion. This campaign escalated from 9th December 2022. By 18th
December 2022, there were a series of attacks in about 18 villages in
Narayanpur district and 15 villages in Kondagaon district displacing
about a thousand Christian Adivasis from their villages. Those displaced
were told to give up their Christian faith and convert to Hindu
religion, failing which they were ordered to leave the village or face
dire consequences, including death. Many Christian Adivasis were gravely
assaulted and beaten with lathis, tires, rods. At least two dozen
people had to be hospitalised with injuries like fracture of collar bone
and other such injuries. A few Christian Adivasis, according to a
fact-finding report of Centre for Study of Society and Secularism,
United Christian Forum and other organizations, one Mr. Manglu Koram and
members of 21 Christian families from Madamnar village were forcibly
taken to the village tihad (temple) where the priest forcefully
sprinkled some water on them and conducted some rituals and declared
them to be Hindus. They also forcibly took away copies of the bible from
their homes. Likewise, 18 families from Udidgaon village and 3 families
from Fulhadgaon, 3 families from Putanchandagaon village were also
forcibly converted. Even persons with disabilities and pregnant women
were not spared from the brutal violence. On 2nd January 2023, a
Catholic Church in Narayanpur was attacked by a violent mob desecrating
the idols of Jesus Christ and Mother Mary. The District Superintendent
of Police was hit on his head and other police personnel were injured.
The
District Administration ignored the early warning consisting of threats
and intimidations targeting Christian Adivasis. These intimidations,
which tantamounted to breach of peace in the locality, were reported but
no action was taken. Even after an escalated and violent campaign
against the Christian Adivasis from 9th December onwards, no notice or
action was taken. No FIR was filed even though the survivors of this
attack filed their complaints with the Benur Police Station in the
Narayanpur district. In Temrugaon, three Christian Adivasis were beaten
in the presence of 10 to 15 policemen. The policemen neither stopped the
attack nor filed FIR of the incident. As a result, the violence
against Christians Adivasis kept on escalating.
The
administration is functioning on the proposition that both sides are
guilty in the conflict, and in fact the DM described the conflict as a
minor scuffle. The wrong that the district administration is alluding to
is that according to them the Christian Adivasis have disowned the
traditional religious beliefs. Every Indian citizen, including the
Adivasis are within their legal rights to profess and practice any
beliefs. The proposition that this is merely a minor scuffle in which
both parties are wrong is becoming an excuse for inaction in stopping
the violence. The inaction has emboldened the perpetrators of violence
and are becoming a law unto themselves.
We therefore demand:
1. Immediate steps should be taken to facilitate return of Christian Adivasis to their villages with dignity and security.
2. Legal
action should be undertaken without any further delay against the
perpetrators of the violence inflicted upon the Christian Adivasis.
Strict action to be taken against those involved in the forcible
conversions that have taken place.
3. Strict
action should be taken as per law against those police officers who
were responsible for inaction against the perpetrators of violence
inflicted on the Christian Adivasis and for non-registration of FIRs.
4. The
homes and prayer houses of the Christian Adivasis that were damaged
during the attacks should be rebuilt by the State, and victims of
violence must be adequately compensated for the pain agony suffered,
apart from the loss of property (house, agricultural harvest, cattle,
etc.) and livelihood ensured.
Signatories to the statement are:
1) Masooma Ranalvi, Working Group Member of SAFFORB, Goa.
2) Dr. D. K. Giri, New Delhi.
3) Dhirendra Panda, Co-ordinator, National Solidarity Forum, Bhubaneshwar.
4) Irfan Engineer, Director, Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, Mumbai.
October 21, 2021
Surge in the recent attacks against Christians in India - 305 incidents in 9 months of 2021 | Fact-Finding Report Released - Press Release oct 21, 2021
PRESS RELEASE
October 21, 2021
Christians under Attack in India
Fact-Finding Report Released
In the wake of the massive surge in the recent attacks against Christians in India , United Against Hate Along with Association for Protection of Civil Rights and United Christian Forum organised a joint Press Conference addressing a series of attacks against Christians and Churches in UP and other parts of the country. Three Hundred and Five (305) incidents of violence 273 Days of 2021 were reported on UCF toll-free helpline number 1-800-208-4545 , a helpline number launched on 19th January 2015 with the aim of helping people in distress, especially those who are not aware of he law of the land and the system by providing them the way to legal remedies and reaching out to public authorities. September 2021 witnessed the highest number of incidents with 69 followed by 50 in August , 37 in January, 33 in July , 27 in March, April and June, 20 in February and 15 in Month of May. Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh recorded 169 incidents of Violence against Christians in total in the last nine months with Karnataka with 32 incidents of hate incidents against Christians. Over one thousand (1331) women were injured in these incidents and over four hundred Tribals (588) and Dalits (513). Nearly Three hundred incidents of mob attacks/violence were reported in these eight months. Twenty-Three(28) incidents of causing damage to the places of worship/Churches too were reported. Police or/other concerned authorities disallowed 85 times the assembly of people for religious activities under one pretext or the other. Ten Fresh cases were filed under the Freedom of Religion Act in this year. Recent one is the attack by over 200 Hindutva mobs in a Church in Roorkee, Uttarakhand on 3rd October, 2021.
The Press Conference was moderated by Banojyotsna Lahiri, who addressed the increasing attacks on minorities in South Asia and the lack of action on the part of the government and its police.
Mr. A.C. Michael, National Coordinator of United Christian Forum, defined the term “minority” and addressed how minorities under attack are not allowed to practice their faith. The religious gatherings are attacked and police pressure forces them into silence.
Pearl, Sadhana and Eva, the victims of violence that took place in Roorkee on October 3, 2021 described the horrific incident. A mob of around 300 people, barged in the church and vandalised it. CCTV cameras were destroyed, Christian worshippers molested and beaten. They pointed out that the attackers were people from the neighbourhood and well educated. No arrests have been made and the harassment hasn’t stopped even after two weeks of the violence.
Ms. Minakshi Singh, President of Unity in Compassion, pointed out that the Christian community is being accused of carrying out ‘conversions’ on a large scale but numbers state otherwise. Over the years, a reduction in the Christian population has been noted. She pointed out the police atrocities against minorities.
Nadeem Khan, Founder of United Against Hate, compared the state’s attitude towards attacks on a minorities in India and Bangladesh. The Indian government is ‘protecting’ these groups as if they belong to a party. He pointed out that this non-responsive government must be questioned.
Prashant Tandon (Senior Journalist), addressed the modus operandi of the attacks on minorities. He pointed that either RSS or any of its sub groups, puts allegations of conversion against minorities. Later, they are attacked and there is no action taken against these acts of violence.
The Fact Finding Report by the team including members of United Against Hate, Association for Protection of Civil Rights and United Christian Forum recording testimonies of victims during vandalisation of Church in Roorkee noting that despite prior complaints by Lance family Roorkee Police did not provide security to the Church and family prior to attack, at the time of attack police were informed and calls were made to Civil Lines police station which is less than a kilometer away from the Church but the police team arrived when the violent mob dispersed on its own after the attack and prima facie attack looked meticulously planned to build a fake narrative of conversion. Breaking of CCTV cameras at the entrance of the prayer hall and taking away the DVR indicate the planning and motive of not leaving evidence behind. The Report records that the daughter of the pastor was molested by a man with the mob while some women slapped and abused her and also snatched her phone away .
The Report also records the testimonies of victims of 89 other incidents of hate crime against Christians like the recent attack of Hindutva Mob on Christians at Mau, targeting of two nuns at Mau by extremist groups etc. in different parts of the country in recent past.
Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR)
+91 9911525155
October 05, 2021
India’s Christians in Chhattisgarh in fear as BJP's propaganda on ‘forced conversions’ grow | Hannah Ellis-Petersen in: The Guardian, 4 Oct 2021
India’s Christians living in fear as claims of ‘forced conversions’ swirl Christians in Chhattisgarh say Hindu nationalist BJP has revived claims to tarnish reputation of rival Congress
Hannah Ellis-Petersen in Chhattisgarh Mon 4 Oct 2021 01.00 BST
It was a stifling July afternoon when the crowd moved into the small district of Lakholi, in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh, and gathered outside the house of Tamesh War Sahu. Sahu, a 55-year-old volunteer with the Home Guard who had begun following Christianity more than five years previously, had never before had issues with his neighbours.
But now, more than 100 people had descended from surrounding villages and were shouting Hindu nationalist slogans outside his front door. Sahu’s son Moses, who had come out to investigate the noise, was beaten by the mob, who then charged inside.
As the men entered the house, they shouted death threats at Sahu’s wife and began tearing posters bearing Bible quotes down from the walls. Bibles were seized from the shelves and brought outside where they were set alight, doused in water and the ashes thrown in the gutter. “We will teach you a lesson,” some people were heard to shout. “This is what you get for forcing people into Christianity.”
Sahu’s family was not the only one attacked that day. Four other local Christian households were also targeted by mobs, led by the Hindu nationalist vigilante group Bajrang Dal, known for their aggressive and hardline approach to “defending” Hinduism. “We had never had any issue before but now our local community has turned against us,” said Sahu.
Since the beginning of the year there have been similar attacks across Chhattisgarh, already the Indian state with the second highest number of incidents against Christians. In some villages, Christian churches have been vandalised, in others pastors have been beaten or abused. Congregations have been broken up by mobs and believers hospitalised with injuries. The police, too, stand accused – of making threats to Christians, hauling them into police stations and carrying out raids on Sunday prayer services.
The attacks have coincided with renewed attention on a longstanding claim from rightwing Hindu groups: that a string of forced conversions are taking place in Chhattisgarh. Such claims have been made by senior figures in the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), which governs India but is in opposition in the state government, as well as rightwing vigilante groups.
Speeches, rallies and press statements in recent months have openly attacked Christian pastors and activists for allegedly converting, through force and coercion, tens of thousands of people from tribal communities and poor, lower-caste Hindu families. They allege they are lured into churches by proselytising pastors offering cash payments, free medical assistance and foreign trips, funded by foreign donors. No evidence has been presented for these claims.
Dozens of “anti-conversion” rallies have been held across Chhattisgarh in the past month, as well as direct violent action On 29 August, 100 people, led by members of another rightwing group, Hindu Sara Ja Jagtar Samiti, tried to attack three churches in the district of Kawardha.
In the first church, in Polmi village, Pastor Moses Logan was conducting the Sunday prayer service when the mob burst in. Logan’s wife and mother were badly beaten, the church curtains torn down, musical instruments smashed and furniture destroyed. Logan’s clothes were ripped as the mob grabbed him and marched him to the local police station, where they attempted unsuccessfully to get a police report filed against him for conducting forced conversions.
As Logan’s car left the police station that night with an escort for safety, it was set upon by people waiting outside, who threw boulders and sticks and smashed the windscreens.
Hindu nationalist groups have attempted to file dozens of similar police reports against members of the Christian community, and in multiple incidents mobs have charged into police stations to try to force the arrest of pastors.
Senior BJP figures told the Guardian that forced conversions were now at the forefront of their agenda in the state.
“We are loudly challenging this issue because it will change the demography of the country and is a threat to law and order,” said Brijmohan Agrawal, a BJP former minister in Chhattisgarh who has spoken at several anti-conversion rallies. “These conversions are foreign funded and so those are who are lured in and converted will also be turned against India. Their patriotism then comes under question.”
Yet the Christian community in Chhattisgarh, which according to the last census numbers about 500,000, denies all charges of forced conversion as false and unfounded. Those who spoke to the Guardian said they had no outside funding and were involved in no active proselytising, as per the state law, though Bibles are often distributed in rural villages and slum areas.
Many members of tribal communities and lower-caste families in Chhattisgarh do attend church services, and they are referred to as “believers” rather than Christians. However, most spoke of first coming to church of their own accord seeking community or on the recommendation of a friend or neighbour. While dozens of complaints have been recently made to police against pastors, no official police reports have been filed nor any arrests made, owing to lack of evidence.
Chhattisgarh is one of nine Indian states that already have draconian laws regulating religious conversions. Those wishing to change their religion are required to gain permission from the local district magistrate, and anyone carrying out forced conversions can be punished with a three-year jail sentence.
Instead, many in the Christian community allege that they have become a political target, saying that the conversion claims has been revived by the BJP as a way to divide voters down religious lines and tarnish the reputation of the Congress party, which rules the Chhattisgarh state government.
“There have never been any tensions between Hindus and Christians before, this is a completely political issue,” said Obed Das, a pastor in Durg district who was recently threatened after he was accused of forced conversions.
Amit Sahu, the state president of the BJP youth wing in Chhattisgarh, claimed that tens of thousands of pastors and Christian activists were involved in forced conversions and said the plan was to catch them and “fill the jails”.
He said that across the state, BJP workers were being instructed to make lists of Christians they believed were converting tribal and Hindu families and keep them under surveillance. “When our party workers are aggressive, then no one can save these pastors,” said Sahu. “We will do anything to save our religion, to save our culture, to save our country.”
The impact on the Christian community has been palpable. Many spoke of being demonised in their own communities and living in fear or in hiding. Those who spoke to the Guardian agreed to do so only in remote locations so they would not be seen. Pastor Ashish Nag, of Good Shepherd church in Bagbahara, who was among those recently reported to the police for forced conversions, said he had been told he was now a target.
“I am worried and scared,” said Nag. “I have been told I’m under surveillance from these Hindu groups, and they report on my movements and who comes to my church.”
Harish Sahu, 43, a pastor at New Life Fellowship ministry church in Bhatagon, Raipur, had a police report filed against seven members of Bajrang Dal who had attacked him in a police station, and two arrests have been made, but police are now stationed outside his church during Sunday service for protection.
There are signs that the claims of forced conversions are now being taken up by the BJP and rightwing groups in other states such as Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.
Some of the threats in Chhattisgarh have come directly from the BJP rather than fringe groups. In early August, Pastor Benu Mehananda, of Church of God church in Shamma, Raipur, was accused by two local BJP leaders of carrying out forced conversions. Standing outside his church, they told him if he did not leave the community he would end up like Graham Staines, the Australian Christian missionary who was burned alive with his two sons by members of Bajrang Dal in neighbouring state of Odisha in 1999.
“The BJP has no issue to attract voters here so they are using conversion to polarise the voters down religious lines,” said Mehanada. “The impact for Christians is terrifying. Some families have stopped coming to my services.”
Rishi Mishra, the state coordinator for Bajrang Dal, said: “Religious conversion is the biggest problem in Chhattisgarh and the top of our agenda. Until recently, this problem was limited to rural areas and the tribal belt. But of late they have started their work of religious conversions in urban areas, in an open and fearless manner.”
Mishra claimed that even when they presented police with evidence and witnesses of forced conversions, the police refused to file cases due to pressure from the ruling Congress government. He said Bajrang Dal was also working to convert many of the believers back to Hinduism, and that they had succeeded with 15 families so far.
“Bajrang Dal was established for dealing with things in an aggressive manner,” he said. “Whoever attempts to convert Hindus should be in fear of Bajrang Dal. Bajrang Dal was created for this very purpose. “
Mahendra Chhabda, a member of the ruling Congress government in Chhattisgarh and chair of the minority commission, said forced conversions were not a problem in the state. However, he said he had had a meeting recently with leaders of the Christian community and advised them to stop distributing Bibles to try to ease tensions.
“The BJP and other groups are talking about forced conversions but I have never been presented with evidence for a single case where a person says they have been forced to convert or given benefits to come to church,” said Chhabda. “All over India the BJP have been targeting Muslims to win votes. Now in Chhattisgarh they have decided to come for the Christians.”
Additional reporting by Mohammad Sartaj Alam
original here : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/04/india-christians-living-in-fear-claims-forced-conversions
March 25, 2021
India: Statement from AICU to Home Minister Amit Shah demanding action against Vigilante group for harassing Nuns on a Train in Jhansi Uttar Pradesh
ALL INDIA CATHOLIC UNION
[FOUNDED 1919]
PRESS STATEMENT
24 MARCH 2021
CATHOLIC UNION DEMANDS ACTION ON VIGILANTE GROUP, POLICE IN HARASSING NUNS IN TRAIN IN JHANSI, UTTAR PRADESH
LETTER TO HOME MINSITER AMIT SHAH SAYS GOVERNMENT MUST SEND STRONG WARNING AGAINST PERSECUTION OF MINORITIES
The All India Catholic Union, founded 101 years ago, has called upon the Prime Minister and the Home minister of India to take exemplary action against the vigilante group and the police involved in the harassment of two Sacred Heart Nuns and two student Nuns in a moving train near Jhansi. In Uttar Pradesh. The police, instead of warding off and arresting the men, instead forced the women. off the train, and took them to the police station.
Two of the women are from Kerala. The Chief minister of Kerala has also written to the Central government on the issue. The Union Home Minister, Mr Amit Shah, who was campaigning in Kerala, said the criminals “will be brought to justice.’
The Catholic Union pointed out that such incidents bring a bad name to the country. AICU’s national President Mr Lancy D Cunha in a letter to the Home minister said “Prime Minister of India, and you, must assure the minority communities in the country that vigilante groups will not be allowed a free hand in terrorising helpless people who cannot defend themselves. We also expect that the police forces of the states and particularly those in the control of the Central will be cautioned they will invite severe disciplinary action if seen abetting such crimes, or remaining bystanders when self-appointed vigilantes take the law in their own hands.
The following is the text of the AICU’s letter:
Mr Amit Shah
Honourable Union Home Minister
Government of India, New Delhi
Re: Harassment of Nuns in train in Uttar Pradesh by vigilantes
Dear Sir
Greetings from the All India Catholic Union [AICU].
AICU, the 101 year old Laity movement in the country, thanks you for assuring that the culprits who harassed four Nuns during their train journey via Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh this week will be brought to justice at the earliest. Although you made the assurance to the people of Kerala where you were campaigning in the state assembly elections, we hope the assurance is to the entire community in India which has been shocked by the vigilante persecution of religious women of the community in public transport with the active participation of policemen.
Such incidents, you will agree, bring India to shame in the eyes of the world and prompt United Nations and other international human rights groups to mention them in their reports.
We hope the government of India has written strongly to the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh as also to the Union Railways minister in whose jurisdiction this crime took place. There is no place in any civilised and tolerant democracy for such vigilante harassment.
As you know, the Christian community the world over is currently observing the holy season of Lent which will conclude with Good Friday, marking the crucifixion of Jesus Christ about two millennium ago in Jerusalem, and then His Resurrection three days later on Easter, which this year falls on 4th April. That such incidents take place at all is a matter of deep concern, and that such targeted hate amounting to violence and gender harassment happen now is extremely alarming and of great concern.
As has been brought to your notice, two nuns and two postulants [trainee sisters] of the Sacred Hearts Congregation of Delhi Province were forced to get off a train by the Railway police in Jhansi after a group of men in the train, who claimed to be working for the “Hindu Samaj” accosted them in the moving train. They accused the sisters of trying forceful conversion. This was a blatant lie. The young women were going home for Easter holidays and the seniors accompanied them for safety. The video, which has gone viral, shows the men started chanting Jai Shriram and Jai Hanuman accusing the Sisters of conversions. The 19-year-old students repeatedly told them that they are Christians, showing their identity proof, but the men would not leave them.
The police who came showed little respect for the law of the land, and instead of restraining the men, forced the nuns to get down at the Jhansi railway station. At the railway platform, more than 150 men surrounded the sisters, shouting slogans. The nuns were taken to the police station and the mob followed them shouting slogans.
We expect the Honourable Prime Minister of India, and you, to assure the minority communities in the country that vigilante groups will not be allowed a free hand in terrorising helpless people who cannot defend themselves. We also expect that the police forces of the states and particularly those in the control of the Central will be cautioned they will invite severe disciplinary action if seen abetting such crimes, or remaining bystanders when self-appointed vigilantes take the law in their own hands.
Thank you
God bless India
Lancy D Cunha
National President, All India Catholic Union
John Dayal
Spokesperson, AICU
24th March 2021
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