India’s government has been called upon to protect Christians during Holy Week, following recent attacks on Christian communities in the country.
Addressing the National Commission for Human Rights, Sajan K George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians, said: “It seems that praying in India has become a crime. Christians are not treated like other citizens.”
Mr George’s appeal comes in the aftermath of attacks on a Pentecostal church in Chhattisgarh state when 65 worshipers were beaten, the arrest of a Pentecostal preacher after being beaten by a group of nationalist Hindu youths, and the violation of an Anglican church in Kalapatti in which the altar and vestments were destroyed.
Describing the violence as “clear violations of constitutional guarantees”, Mr George said the constitution “guarantees freedom of worship, but last month we have seen too many episodes of religious violence”.