India, Christians ask for protection from persecution
Pastor Dale Morgan
03/20/2007 14:15
*India, Christians ask for protection from persecution*
by Nirmala Carvalho
They have asked the local government for a law protection ethnic
minorities. 4 murders and countless attacks have targeted the Christian
community there. In Tirupati, seat of important Hindu Temples, a violent
Hindu protest has broken out. They are asking that all Christian
activities be outlawed. A newly converted student commits suicide.
New Delhi (AsiaNewsWires) –The Christian community of Hyderabad, Capital
of Andhra Pradesh (Ap), have asked the local government for a law
protection ethnic minorities. Meanwhile the Hindu activists carry out
aggressive attacks on Christians and the parties organize public
protests calling for all Christian activities to be banned in the Hindu
Holy city of Tirupati.
Christians recall the frequent attacks. Dr J J Kumar Luke, member of the
Centenary Methodist Telugu Church, tells of A pastor in Asifnagar was
beaten up when he visited a church member’s residence and was beaten up
by some self-proclaimed Hindu activists. “When he went to lodge a police
complaint, a case was registered against him on charges of conversion”
(In Ap it is illegal to convert a Hindu to another faith).
(AP Christian Federation) had been lobbying for the same from 2004
general election. The NCMP included something similar which has now been
introduced in the Parliament under the title "Prevention of Communal
Riots Bill. Given the situation in A.P. where four pastors had been
killed and many pastors including foreigners had been attacked, we do
need an act similar to "the SC / ST Prevention of Atrocities Act”.
While the Christians appeal for greater protection, on March 6th Sangh
Parivar activists launched the “Save Tirupati” with protest meetings at
Mysore (Karnataka) against the Christian missionaries at the temple of
Tirumala Tirupati, in Tirupati city (Andhra Pradesh).
Inaugurating the campaign, senior advocate M.A. Sampath Iyengar alleged
that the Christian Missionaries were trying to disturb the atmosphere of
Sanatana Dharma (in sanscritt: eternal law, another name for Hinduism)
and called upon the Hindus to launch a united struggle to protect
Tirupati shrine against 'Christianisation”. The activists including
women, who are participating in the dharna, belong to BJP, Viswa Hindu
Parishat and Bhajrang Dal. The Tirupati temples are revered by Hindus to
the same degree as the Holy Land is for Christians. Venkateshwara temple
which lies in the city is Hinduisms chief temple and the second most
visited religious site in the after the Holy Land.
The aim of the protests s to force the federal government as well as the
regional authorities of Andhra Pradesh – as organizer Ramdas explains -
to issue a law which will prohibit all Christian activity in the area
and readdress the religious importance of the temple, limiting bars and
restaurants which have occupied vast areas of the complex to the
discredit of the Temple. They are also contesting the recent appointment
of a Christian convert to the post of Padmavati University vice
chancellor , Veena Nobel Das, who removed the portrait of Lord
Venkateshwara and his bride Padmavathi from the classrooms and offices
of the University.
Last week following a series of attacks on Christians, a student
Umamaheswari - who had allegedly been converted to Christianity sometime
ago, committed suicide, in the Tirupati university hostel.