Archbishop Machado: When it comes to religious freedom, India is ‘backward’. Meanwhile, attacks against Christians continue

New Delhi (AsiaNews) – “I am also aware of the overt and covert attacks on the Christians in many parts of our country,” said Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore and president of the Karnataka Catholic Bishops’ Conference (KRCBC), speaking about the escalation of sectarian violence against the Christian minority, both against it religious practices as well as its symbols and buildings.

This follows recent reporting from the United Christian Forum for Human Rights (UCFHR) about attacks against Christians in different parts of India, most notably in Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh.

“The attacks and persecutions are now not restricted to religious factors alone, but are also being extended to religious, social and educational institutions as well, as also burial grounds,” the prelate explained.

“The intolerance, the discrimination, and the hate speeches are hurting. The silence, and at times, the complicity of the government machinery is baffling.”

The warning by the archbishop of Bangalore stems from at least five cases of violence and violations of religious freedom documented by Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), between 13 and 20 October in several Indian states.

The first incident was reported on 13 October in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, where the police broke up a prayer meeting after a complaint filed by Sarvesh Singh, the head of the National Gau Raksha Vahini.

Singh, who is associated with a group known for its vigilante actions under the pretext of cow protection, accused the Christian gathering of engaging in conversions. For its part, police arrested a couple and detained several participants without carrying out any preliminary investigation.

On the same day in Jagatsinghpur district, Odisha, members of the Hindu nationalist Bajrang Dal movement attacked a Christian prayer meeting, again on false charges of conversions and proselytising.

During the attack, they threatened to use violence and strip naked those present to humiliate them because of their faith. In this case, the intervention of the police prevented further harm, even if the attackers were able to leave unpunished leaving the victims still vulnerable to further assaults.

On 17 October in Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh, a family that was burying a relative ended up in the crosshairs of some militants from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal, who opposed the service and burial in the village cemetery.

Despite a long-standing presence in the area, to avert further escalations, Christians gave in to pressure and took the body to a place outside the village.

The last two cases occurred last week.On 17 October, some VHP militants backed by the local police stormed a prayer meeting in Saharsa, Bihar, seizing religious symbols, including Bibles and other Christian literature. A clergyman was detained for some time after the raid.

On 20 October in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, police raided the home of a Christian family after villagers complained of alleged conversions under the pretext of prayer meetings. Based on unsubstantiated charges, three family members were detained.

“On the one hand,” said Archbishop Machado, “India wishes to project itself as a forward-looking country with the largest democracy; on the other hand, with restrictions placed on the citizens as regards to freedom of belief and religion, we are regressing as backward nation.”

“To think that 12 states have passed so-called freedom of religion bills, which are in fact anti-conversion laws, contradicting the constitutional provisions, speak of a mentality that is more deplorable than the colonial mindset.”

For the prelate, “That even Karnataka, one of the most developed states in the Indian Union is still persisting with an anti-conversion law passed by the previous administration, goes on to show that economic development has nothing to do with constitutional freedoms.”

Indeed, “I pray in the words of National Poet, Rabindra Nath Tagore, ‘Into the heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country arise.’”

This article was originally published on https://www.asianews.it/news-en/Archbishop-Machado:-When-it-comes-to-religious-freedom,-India-is-backward%E2%80%99.-Meanwhile,-attacks-against-Christians-continue-61764.html