Catholic leaders say ‘ethnic cleansing’ of Christians unfolding in Indian state
MUMBAI – Prayers and protest marches by India’s small but socially influential Catholic community were staged across the country July 2 in response to ongoing violence against Christians in the country’s northeastern state of Manipur. Called by the Catholic Bishops Conference of India, the protests highlighted that more than 100 people, largely Christians, have been killed so far in Manipur, with the carnage unfolding just ahead of the August anniversary of an anti-Christian pogrom in 2008 in the state of Orissa. The conflict pits the largely Hindu Meitei ethnic group against the mostly Protestant Christian Kuki people, each of which represents roughly forty percent of the state’s population of four million, but the Meitei enjoy the support of regional and national political forces dominated by the Hindu nationalist BJP party of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Since the violence began on May 3, estimates are that some 50,000 displaced persons are now living in 300 refugee camps, though with larger numbers expelled from their homes and villages who haven’t moved to any formal settlements. Over 5,000 structures, including churches and private Christian homes, have been burned, and some local observers claim that as many as 120 people have died. A June 22 message from
Men from warrior Sikh sect attack church in India
A mob comprised of men dressed in the traditional attire of a Sikh warrior order stormed into a church, causing significant property damage and injuring numerous church members in India’s Punjab state. The assailants, who bore the distinct Nihang attire — blue robes, swords and spears — interrupted a peaceful gathering at the Sukhpal Rana Ministries Church in Rajewal village near Amritsar city in the Sikh-majority state, the U.K.-based group Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports. They brandished sticks, tore Bibles, vandalized vehicles parked outside and attacked the congregants, the group said, adding that following the initial assault, the situation escalated into a volatile confrontation, with both parties hurling stones. In response to the violent incident, the Christian community of Rajewal village protested, seeking justice and promising retaliation if immediate action wasn’t taken. They reportedly demanded charges of blasphemy against the attackers. A member of the Punjab Minority Commission reportedly visited the village to assess the situation, although subsequent action remains uncertain. The local police, including the police superintendent, visited the protest site and assured the congregation that a formal complaint had been filed and prompt action would be taken. The police have yet to confirm whether the assailants belong to the Nihang sect, who have subsequently denied
India: Bangalore Church Vandalized, Altar Destroyed
According to local sources, the Altar, a Bible and a Holy relic were destroyed in a fresh vandalism attack that has shaken the local Catholic community. Newsroom (June 21, 2023 1:14 PM Gaudium Press) – Kammanahalli is a suburb located in the north-eastern part of the city of Bangalore. The locality is a bustling cosmopolitan neighborhood with retail shops, residential areas, eateries, pubs, bars, and activities. Last night, at approximately 3AM local time, St Pius X Church was attacked and vandalized. According to local sources, the Altar, a Bible and a Holy relic were destroyed in a fresh vandalism attack that has shaken the local Catholic community. Meanwhile, reports indicate Police has arrested a Hindi speaking man as a possible perpetrator of the sacrilegious assault. a few hours after the incident, Most Rev. Peter Machado. Metropolitan Archbishop of Bangalore visited the Church to be with the community and support them in the aftermath of the attack. A police investigation continues as the attack is perceived by international observers as part of an orchestrated campaign to terrorize the local christian communities. This article was published on www.gaudiumpress.ca
Tamil Nadu: AICCC condemns attack on Manipur Churches, holds massive protest in support of Christians
The All India Christian Churches Council (AICCC), on Sunday, held a massive protest at the Chennai Collector Office in Parrys, Chennai, to take security measures to protect churches that were attacked in the Manipur violence. The All India Christian Churches Council (AICCC), on Sunday, held a massive protest at the Chennai Collector Office in Parrys, Chennai, to take security measures to protect Churches that were attacked in the Manipur violence. National President-Founder of the AICCC, Bishop B Mohandas headed the protest. Additionally, Christian Community National High-level leaders based in the Taluk district of Tamil Nadu along with the circle community members participated in the protest wearing black clothes. More than 400 members of various Christian organisations participated in the protest holding a board that said, "Save Manipur Christians and Churches". "We Christian community peoples gathered here to condemn the current situation in Manipur in support of our community peoples. Central Government should take necessary action immediately to save the Christian peoples", said Winson, AICCC President, South Chennai. Adding further, Winson said, "It has been more than 5 weeks since prayers were offered at the churches in Manipur. They are closed and some of them have been damaged". Additionally, the AICCC president urged the
Manipur violence ‘genocide’, ‘another version of Gujarat riots’: Kerala Archbishop Joseph Pamplany
Archbishop Joseph Pamplany hit out at the BJP governments in the Centre and Manipur for failing to ‘quench the violence’ and alleged that Christians were being singled out and attacked. The Kerala-based Syro-Malabar Catholic Church on Thursday said the violence in Manipur has “turned into a genocide” and developed into “another version” of the 2002 Gujarat riots, with Christians being singled out and attacked. “There seems to be a concerted effort behind the riots. People have apprehension that the government is shielding those behind the riots,” Archbishop Joseph Pamplany, one of the core members of the Synod of the Catholic Church in Kerala, said on Thursday, addressing the media in Kannur. “The violence in Manipur has turned into a genocide. Both the Centre and the state governments have failed in quenching the violence. The tension in Manipur has turned into a genocide which is unheard of in the history of the country. It has developed into another version of the riots in Gujarat,” the archbishop said. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent statement in the US that there is no discrimination in India, the archbishop said the Prime Minister should have made that comment looking at the face of the people of Manipur. Pamplany
DMK MP Booked For Attack On Church Priest
In a major controversy in Tamil Nadu’s Thirunelveli, DMK MP Gnana Thiravam was sent a notice by the party leadership for attacking a church priest. In a major controversy in Tamil Nadu’s Thirunelveli, DMK MP Gnana Thiravam has been sent a notice by the party leadership. In the Thirunelveli diocese of the Church of South India (CSI), the DMK MP Gnana Diraviyam served as a member of the council as well as the treasurer of the Holy Yovana Bhavan school until a few days ago. However, the MP was removed from these positions all of a sudden, without any notice. He has been replaced by Arul Manickam, a government lawyer. Shocked by this move, the DMK MP and his supporters went to the Holy Yovana Bhavan school to express their angst against the decision and seek an explanation. While talks were on, the supporters of the MP and the new officials indulged in a scuffle. Furthermore, Gnana and his supporters locked some rooms in the CSI office at Thirumandalam in Palayamkottai, Thirunelveli, and staged a protest. The authorities then insisted that the rooms should be opened and the administrative activities should not be disrupted. Meanwhile, a senior priest, Godfrey Noble, visited the CSI Thirumandalam
Church in India to observe a national day of prayer for peace in Manipur
As sectarian violence continues in Manipur, the Catholic bishops of India call for a special day of prayer for peace in the riot-hit Indian state. By Lisa Zengarini The Catholic Church of India has called for a national day of prayer on Sunday, July 2, to end the ongoing sectarian violence in Manipur. Over 100 dead and 50,000 displaced by ongoing violence The violence erupted in the north-eastern Indian state on May 3, when Hindu-majority Meitei people, who control the local political power and represent or 53 percent of its population, attacked a demonstration of Kuki tribals, who are mainly Christians, protesting against a court proposal to extend the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Meitei. The special status grants priority in government jobs, education, and other affirmative programs meant for the indigenous people, such as the Kuki. Nearly two months since the outbreak of the violence, which so far has claimed over 100 lives and displaced more than 50,000 people, mostly Kuki Christians, unrest hasn’t yet subsided. This has been confirmed in recent days by Archbishop Dominic Lumon of Imphal, in a letter addressed to Indian bishops updating them on the latest developments. According to the prelate, clashes continue unabated, notably in the outlying areas of
Christian Family Traumatized by Ethnic Violence in India
On the evening of May 3, an ethnic Christian in northern India’s Manipur state received a call from a relative advising her to pack up and leave home with her children immediately. Manngaihlun Tombing, of the Kuki ethnic minority in Churachandpur, did not take it seriously, she said. The worst that could happen, she thought, was that the government would impose a curfew. “Keeping that in mind, I quickly rushed to a nearby store and bought enough supplies to sustain us if a curfew was imposed,” Tombing said. Little did Tombing know that she and her family would flee their home and narrowly escape death several times over the next 24 hours. Tombing lived in the area known as Paite Veng, of the state capital, Imphal, with her husband, their two children, her mother-in-law and a domestic helper when the May 3 violence began between the predominantly Christian Kuki and the Meitei, who are majority Hindu. Tombing did not anticipate that the ethnic clash that originated during a march to protest the demand of the Meitei community for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status would result in the killing of almost 200 people and leave 60,000 displaced. When she returned home from the market, she received a
Warrior Sikhs attack persecuted Christians in India
Pastor Jai opened up his church in the city of Rajewal in preparation for Sunday services. Just as the congregation was worshipping, a mob comprised of men dressed in the traditional attire of a Sikh warrior stormed into the church, causing significant property damage and injuring numerous persecuted Christians in India. As previously reported on the GCR Prayer App, the South Asian nation has recently fallen under international criticism for the violent riots that took place in Manipur early last month, displacing tens of thousands of persecuted Christians in India. Throughout the country, religious tensions couldn’t be higher. The attackers in Rajewal wore blue robes and were armed with swords and spears. They barged into a peaceful church service and tore Bibles, vandalized vehicles and assaulted congregants. Pastor Jai and the church members were forced to hurl stones in self-defense. The police were called to help bring the hostile situation under control. The attackers are said to belong to the Nihang sect, which is a warrior order in India, but the sect has denied any involvement. According to the U.S. Department of State, Christians comprise just over 2% of the population. Many believe the number to be as high as nearly 5%—however persecuted
Manipur Is Burning: Why Are You Silent, Mr Modi?
It's said Emperor Nero played the fiddle while Rome was burning. Historians have pointed out that the story is baseless. The fiddle was not there in Rome during Nero's time, and his favourite instrument was the lyre. When the fire began, he was 35 miles away from Rome. However, it is true that Nero availed of the fire to blame the Christians and started a wave of persecution, the first of many. It would be wrong to say that the Central Government behaved like Nero, even though the fact remains that the Union Home Minister could find time to go to Manipur only three weeks after the fire started. In short, the fire raged on for three weeks before the fire brigade in the nation's capital thought of taking note of it. In defence of the Home Minister, it can be argued that the all- important Karnataka State elections merited his attention. Prime Minister Modi, in his super popular Mann ki Baat on 17 June 2023, spoke about the dark days of the Emergency imposed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 25 June 1975. He spoke about the ravages of cyclone Biparjoy in Gujarat. He had no time to say even a
