A sea of humanity descended onto Parliament Street, a street leading to the Parliament House in the national capital on Sunday in a peaceful sit-in protest to denounce a "systematic attacks on Christians by communal forces" in the country as "worrisome" and called for "religious freedom, peace and protection of minorities" and the authorities to take strict against the perpetrators.
Over 8,000 attended the peaceful protest organised by the Christian Community of Delhi (CCD), a joint efforts of Delhi Pastors Action Team (DPAT) and Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) to bring to the attention of the Government and the Nation, what they called, "the systematic targeting of Christians by communal forces, despite being a tiny 2.3 percent of the Indian population."
The organisers later who submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in which they stated that the sit-in demonstration is part of a series of protests by Christians since 2014 to express "our collective frustration, deep sorrow and mounting anguish at the government's cynicism and apathy to stop the targeted violence against us."
According to partial list available with Evangelical Fellowship of India's Religious Liberty Commission (EFI-RLC), there have been 147 incidents of violence and hate crimes against the Christian community in 2014. In 2015 so far the incidents have already crossed the 100 incidents. .
"The unchecked hate has resulted in frequent violence against Christians throughout the country. Nuns, sometimes as old as 70 years, are being raped in gross contempt of law and humanity. Church clergy, buildings and institutions are being attacked with impunity and generally justice has either not been forthcoming or has been explained away," the statement made by the organisers stated.
It further states that the recent beating up of Christian Pastors in Nihal Vihar in the capital of the nation and the impunity with which it was carried out in the presence of the police, is a glaring example of the casual attitude with which even the law enforcement agencies have started to look upon the cases of hate crimes against the Christian community. Even as we protest, justice for the Nihal Vihar Pastors is awaited.
The statement also noted: "Within the past week, at least five incidents have been reported from Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Christian praying even in their own homes, in private worship, are no longer safe as they are being targeted by right wing extremists apparently drunk on political power and support."
The protesters ask that the promises made by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding Religious Freedom and the curbing of 'violence against any religion' be fulfilled on ground level. And asked and prayed for an India that has Religious Freedom and space for people of all faiths and ideology.
The press statement also remember the timely advise of the Hon'ble President Mr. Pranab Mukherjee given earlier this year at the eve of the Republic Day of India, wherein he appealed for the preservation of the values of pluralism, tolerance and goodwill between diverse communities. He reminded us of the violence of the tongue and of the danger of the political discourse becoming a competition in hysteria abhorrent to our traditional ethos. Religion, he said, quoting Gandhiji, is a force of unity; we cannot make it a cause for conflict.
The statement also noted and wished for the nation to know and have concern for the welfare of others, for a peaceful and harmonious India for future generations.
Reports by civil society groups have recorded at least 43 deaths in over 600 cases of violence, 194 targeting Christians and the rest Muslims, between 26th May 2014 and 13th May 2015."
"This is a worrisome trend for minorities in India," the press statement by the organisers stated.
