Thousands of Christians court arrest during protest rally in New Delhi

Thousands of Christians courted arrest in New Delhi while protesting against the increase in anti–Christian violence and the apparent failure of the government to address the issue.

The rally, called "Stop violence against Christians," was held at Jantar Mantar, May 29, in response to the two recent televised attacks on Christians viz. Pastor Walter Masih in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on April 19 and evangelists Ramesh Gopargode and Ajit Belavi on May 7 in Kolhapur, Maharashtra.

More than 4000 people, including many key Christian leaders and human rights activists, attended the rally.

The All India Christian Council (AICC) was the main organizer of this event.

"The Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) condemns the ongoing violence against Christians and encourages all Christians to stand with each other and pray for this matter," Rev. Richard Howell, general secretary, EFI, said.

Urging Christians to set aside denominational divisions to work toward full civil rights, (Rtd.) Bishop Karim Masih of Delhi diocese said, "Today I don't come as a CNI leader. I come as a Christian. All denominations should unite until all the anti–Christian atrocities stop."

"This was the first time since November 1997 that such large numbers of Christians have been arrested in the Parliament Street Police Station. It was incredible to see Catholic nuns, Protestant pastors, civil society activists and more singing Christian songs of liberation within the police station," said Dr. John Dayal, president, All India Catholic Union (AICU).

Thousands of believers who had assembled at the rally were joined by Muslims, Buddhists and progressive Hindu leaders, leaders of various women organisations, students groups from several universities, and Christian lawyers, teachers, and professors.

"The diversity of protestors, from several religious communities, different Christian denominations, and even civil society groups, show that India's citizens want a truly secular India. People should be able to practice their faith without violent attacks. The government's silence in the face of recent anti–Christian incidents is not only an injustice, it is dangerous," Dr. Joseph D'souza, president, AICC, said.

"Those parties and groups who are persecuting Christians should be treated as terrorists. It is unacceptable to attack others based on a difference in spiritual beliefs," Dr. Ms. Begum Fatima Shahmaz, India Peace Organisation, said.

"Today there is a special unity of Christians and Dalits around the country. We, Dalits, have been attacked for thousands of years and you have been recently attacked. Christians have given much to this country so I want to teach you how to be united, and, if you are united, we can stop the attacks," Dr. Udit Raj, National Chairman, All India Confederation of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes Organisations, said.

Taking a leading role, AICC called upon the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, urging him to take "immediate measures to stop the increasing violence against the Christian community not only BJP–ruled States but even in Congress–ruled ones."

"We call for an immediate repeal of the anti–conversion law in Himachal Pradesh as this has exposed once again the pseudo–secularism of some in the Congress party," AICC stated in a press release.

The Christian rights group also urged the government to "stop the discrimination against Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslins and implement the recommendation of the Justice Misra Commission asking the Government to confer Scheduled Caste status on them."

"The Central Government cannot be partial in how it implements the law and spirit of the Constitution," it stated.