End attacks on us, say Indian Christians*

29 May 2007 10:07:37 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Kamil Zaheer

NEW DELHI, May 29 (Reuters) - Hundreds of Indian Christians, some
shouting "hallelujah", held a noisy but peaceful protest in New Delhi on
Tuesday, demanding the federal government stop hardline Hindu groups
from attacking them.

Christian groups have reported dozens of attacks on priests and
institutions over the past year by right-wing groups, said to be linked
to the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the country's
main opposition group. "This season of attacks on Christians must come
to an end," Joseph D'Souza, president of the All India Christian
Council, said at the demonstration.

"Come to your senses, prime minister," shouted protesters, some holding
placards which read: "We are less than 2.5 percent of the population,
why target us?"

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh heads the centrist Congress party-led
coalition, which received strong support in the 2004 elections from
religious minorities like Muslims and Christians.

But his government had not done enough to prevent violence against them,
the protesters said.

This month, right-wing Hindus thrashed two Christian priests in public
in the western state of Maharashtra, accusing them of trying to forcibly
convert low-caste Hindus.

In April, a Christian priest who was also the headmaster of a missionary
school was beaten by Hindu activists in front of his family in the
western state of Rajasthan, ruled by the BJP.

"We have done so much for the country yet there are attacks against us,"
Father Arul Anthony, one of the speakers, said. "This saddens us."

Christian missionaries and groups have set up some of India's best
hospitals and colleges, providing education and healthcare to millions
of people of all faiths.

Christians make around 2.5 percent of officially secular but mainly
Hindu India's 1.1-billion population. Hindu groups say some Christian
organisations try to convert low-caste Hindus and tribals through
inducements like free schooling or by force.

Christian groups say hardline Hindus, opposed to their social work among
the lower castes and impoverished tribals, intimidate people to try and
prevent them from willingly converting to Christianity.