Persecution of Christians in India concerns Britain: Lord Brown

Lord Mark Malloch–Brown, Minister of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the British government (Africa, Asia and the UN) says he has been flooded with mails from British MPs and citizens condemning the violence against Christians in India.

Following his visit to India, Lord Brown in a meeting with National Commission for Minorities chairperson Mohamed Shafi Qureishi expressed concern on the issue.

“My mailbox has been brimming with mails from MPs and people, which I consider as a weather–vane. The issue of violence against Christians has been the single biggest issue in the recent weeks,” he told a national daily.

Tagging India as a multi–ethnic country, Lord Brown said, "If that multi–cultural tolerant mosaic is breached, it breaks alarm,” adding, “We are all anxious to see how the Indian Government acts.”

During 2005 and 2006 Lord Brown served as chief of staff and then as deputy secretary general of the United Nations. Before that between 1999 and 2005 he was administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Apart from Lord Brown, acting high commissioner of Australia in India David Holly too met with the NCM chairman and asked, “why Christians and their places of worship were being targeted when, as per the government records, no forcible conversion were taking place?”

Also voicing concern over the escalating violence on Christians was Dr Michael Nazir–Ali, Bishop of Rochester, who condemned the behavior of Sangh parivar organizations in attacking minorities.

“There is an outcry when a single Hindu is killed, and Christian leaders have strongly condemned any such incident. Christians in Orissa are, however, rapidly running out of cheeks to turn. Extremist Hindus are accusing Christians of deception and murder. This would be risible if it were not tragic: the disenfranchised Christians of Orissa are in no position to force anyone to convert. Such accusations must be taken as threats of further violence,” he said.

“I have already suggested a fact–finding mission by an international delegation of religious, political and civic leaders. I hope this happens quickly so that the world can know the truth,” he added.

According to the All India Christian Council, at least 60 people have died and several women including nuns being gangraped in the district. 50,000 people rendered homeless and close to 4,300 houses been destroyed since August 23, the murder of VHP Hindu leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati.