India (MNN) — The U. S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)has recommendedthat India be designated as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). Its 2024 Annual Report released May 1, 2024 recommends adding five new countries to the 17 already on the CPC list. But the pushback from India against this designation has been swift and sharp. A spokesperson for the nation’s Ministry of External Affairs referred to the report as “propaganda,” and called USCIRF “a biased organization with a political agenda.” So what is going on? Tim Landis with FARMS International 

Christians in many parts of India are witnessing a significant rise in persecution as elections continue across the country. Incidents include physical assaults, arrests based on false allegations, forced ‘reconversion’ to Hinduism and attacks on Christian institutions. Priya Sharma*, a local Open Doors partner, notes that Christians are among the religious minorities who have been vocally targeted during election campaigning. “Political parties and leaders are giving hate speeches and provocative statements against each other and religious minorities,” she says. “We pray that individuals do not get carried away by the speeches of political leaders and parties, but cast their votes wisely for the betterment of the nation. And may India stand on the pillars of equality, non-discrimination and be a place of religious tolerance.” Nationwide elections started on 19 April and continue until 1 June. Sharma continues, “Incidents of persecution are reported every day. Christians are targeted all over India. There is not a single state in India that is safe for Christians. Pastors and believers are attacked, threatened and arrested on false charges, while churches and Christian institutions are attacked or forced to close down. There is continuous hatred and discrimination against the Christian community.” Central India: brutal attack and false arrest After

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The General Conference of the United Methodist Church (UMC), which met in Charlotte, NC on April 30, 2024, overwhelmingly passed a resolution recognizing the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in India by the Hindu nationalist movement and calling on the US government to take action. The resolution focuses on the 2023 violence against tribal Christians in Manipur, India, where at least 120 people were killed by armed mobs operating with sanction of the state’s ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The UMC is the first denomination in the world to pass such a resolution. The resolution appeals to the US State Department to “designate India as a ‘country of particular concern,’ or CPC, for engaging in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom, as defined by the International Religious Freedom Act.” The Rev. Scort Christy, President of the New Federation of Asian American United Methodists (NFAAUM), who introduced the petition, said, “Too often, we mourn the loss of lives after a terrible tragedy has occurred. This particular resolution is an urgent plea to proactively prevent atrocious acts of violence against Christians in India on account of their religious belief. We hope other denominations also follow UMC’s lead by passing similar resolutions.” “Religious

The BJP in Kerala sounds very inclusive. They hardly direct their ire at the Christian community. Most of their fire is aimed at the 'anti-national elements' in the Muslim community. They also work feverishly to create a wedge between both prominent minority communities through various insidious plans and often with allegations pitting one against the other. Lately, they have been busy recruiting Christians to their cadre to display their diversity credentials. Are any of these overtures genuine? Is the BJP in Kerala a wolf in sheep's clothing just to placate Christians to get a foothold in a State that so far rejected their appeasement until now? A significant attack on the Christian community in Southeastern Gujarat took place under a BJP government in 1998. That was the beginning of a series of riots and persecution of the Christian minority across India. Kandhamal, Orissa in 2008, and Manipur in 2023 witnessed major incidents of violence directed at the community. In between, there were scores of incidents of killings and incarceration of Christian leaders, barging in and disrupting church services, destruction of churches and other properties, cancellation of FCRAS, suspension of Christian charity and educational work, deportation of foreign Christian leaders from the

KOHIMA: In a distressing incident of vandalism, unidentified individuals wreaked havoc at Kinunger village, located in Mokokchung district of Nagaland, in the early hours of May 03. Situated approximately 20 kilometers from Mokokchung town of Nagaland, the village fell victim to a series of destructive acts.Reports indicate that the ordeal commenced at around 2 AM when two vacant houses were set ablaze, triggering a fire that engulfed the structures along with a nearby granary. Despite the efforts of the villagers and fire tenders, the inferno could only be subdued after causing significant damage.Thankfully, no occupants were harmed as the houses were unoccupied at the time. Later, residents were alarmed to discover smoke emanating from the main church building.Swift action from villagers averted a potential catastrophe as they managed to contain the fire before it consumed the entire church. Upon inspection, plastic bottles filled with petrol were discovered inside the church premises, pointing to deliberate sabotage.Furthermore, it came to light that the village was slated to hold a Church revival prior to the incident.Authorities have reportedly apprehended an individual in connection with the case. ondemnation from Nagaland deputy CM Expressing shock and vehement condemnation, Nagaland deputy chief minister and BJP leader Y Patton denounced the attempt to torch the Church in

In March and April 2024, India's Christian minority community faced an escalating number of attacks, disruptions of religious gatherings, and legal cases across multiple states, highlighting the continued challenges to freedom of religion in the world's largest democracy. Reports available with Christian Today India, sourced from persecution watchdog organisations and first-hand accounts point to a concerning pattern of mob violence, often allegedly involving Hindu nationalist groups, targeting Christian places of worship, and falsely accusing clergymen of illegal conversions. Several pastors and worshippers were detained by police, though many were later released without charges. In the northern state of Uttar Pradesh alone, incidents were reported in the cities of Unnao, Kaushambi, Gorakhpur, Jaunpur, Raebareli, Saharanpur, Maharajganj and Kanpur. On April 1, police called in a pastor in Unnao over conversion allegations before releasing him. In Kaushambi, eight people were arrested after Hindu groups disrupted a gathering, leading to charges under Uttar Pradesh's controversial anti-conversion law. The central states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh also saw multiple cases. In Madhya Pradesh, the Christian community had to approach the Supreme Court of India to regain permission for a prayer meeting after it was revoked by authorities citing law and order concerns. In Chhattisgarh's Durg district, Pastor Dhalsingh Sahu

In its 2024 report, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has recommended that India be designated as a “country of particular concern” due to persistent and egregious violations of religious freedoms. The recommendation came even as Kuki-Zo Christians in Manipur state solemnly marked the first anniversary of ongoing violence, which shows no signs of abating. The USCIRF’s 2024 annual report highlights a series of laws — such as the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, and the Citizenship Amendment Act — and governmental actions that have systematically targeted religious minorities, including Christians, under the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Hindu nationalist policies. The other persecuted minorities are Muslims, Sikhs, Dalits, Jews and tribals, or indigenous communities, according to the USCIRF. In early 2023, the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs suspended the FCRA license of the Centre for Policy Research, impacting its operations as it scrutinized state responses to discrimination against minorities, the U.S. panel noted, adding that journalists like Teesta Setalvad were targeted for their reporting on past communal violence, particularly anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat back in 2002. Reports from NGOs tally 687 violent incidents against Christians in the past year alone, the USCIRF said in its report. Notably, in January, attacks by

Archbishop Linus Neli of Imphal has called all Catholics in the eastern Indian state of Manipur to hold intense fast and prayer for reconciliation and peace May 3-5.“Let us persistently pray for the day when people of all ethnicities and religious communities can live together peacefully in this beautiful land of Manipur,” says a statement the archdiocese issued in early May. An ethnic clash that broke out May 3, 2023, between the Meitei and Kuki communities led to the death of hundreds and the displacement of 60,000 people.The Meitei people make up 53 percent of Manipur’s 2.8 million, population; the Naga people make up 24 percent, the Chin-Kuki-Mizo people make up 16 percent. Hindus and Christians each make up about 41 percent of the population, while Muslims make up just over 8 percent. The conflict was triggered by an affirmative action controversy in which Christian Kukis protested a demand by mostly Meitei Hindus for a special status that would let them buy land in the hills populated by Kukis and other tribal groups, and get a share of government jobs. Ethnic violence has been a decades-old problem in Manipur state, where 700 people were killed in 1993 and the government took a year

In a significant and positive move, the apex body of Catholic bishops in India issued new guidelines to educational institutions under its jurisdiction in April to address what it called "emerging challenges due to the current socio-cultural, religious, and political situation" in the country According to the guidelines, all educational institutions under its jurisdiction must inscribe the preamble to the Indian Constitution on the main entrance to all schools and must ensure students recite the preamble during daily assemblies. The Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) has also directed schools to refrain from imposing Christianity on students of other religions, and Catholic schools should have an inter-religious prayer room, known as 'Sarvadharma Prarthanalay, on the school premises. The Catholic Church operates around 14,000 schools at the elementary and secondary levels, 650 colleges, seven universities, five medical colleges, and over 400 technical and vocational institutions. The Catholic bishops are leaving no stone unturned to promote a climate of respect for all faiths in our country, which is home to diverse religions and ethnicities. The latest initiative is also seen as an endeavour to reinforce India's secular ethos at a time when attacks against Christians and minorities by both State and non-State actors are increasing

Nearly one year since violent clashes tore apart Manipur State in northeast India, Christians still need your prayers and help It’s been nearly a year since Manipur State in northeastern India was rocked by violence. The clashes, mostly between the Christian-majority Kuki tribe and the mostly Hindu Meitei people group, left hundreds dead and thousands displaced. Christians were particularly targeted—believers were killed or forced to flee, and churches and homes were burned. Even Meitei Christians, who are mostly converts from Hinduism, were targeted by extremist Hindus in the attack. While the height of the violence took place a year ago, skirmishes and violent outbreaks have continued. Just recently on April 12, gunfire and clashes between the community continued, with two Christian believers from the Kuki tribe shot dead while two from the Meitei community were injured. And the Indian elections, which began on April 19, saw more violence. On the day of the elections, Hindu extremists attacked polling booths, vandalized ballot machines, and even cast votes on behalf of other citizens. Clashes and gunfire near voting booths have startled and scared locals. This video from India Today shows the chaos of election day, with stone throwing and even a recovered bomb. “On the day of the election,