The Catholic Asso ciation of Goa (CAG) on Janu ary 2, Friday, made detailed representations to the Gover nor of Goa, urging him to in tervene with the President of India and the Union Govern ment over what it described as a disturbing rise in target ed violence and intimidation against Christians across the country, particularly during the Christmas period. Along side its main memorandum seeking constitutional inter vention, the association also submitted an additional note detailing the wider constitu tional, economic and social impact of such violence on India and Goa. In its representation rout ed to the President through the Governor, the CAG said it was placing on record its deep anguish and alarm at a sustained pattern of attacks on Christians, their church es and institutions in several States. “These are not stray incidents or routine law-and order problems,” said CAG president Cyril A Fernandes. “What we are witnessing is a pattern that directly assaults the constitutional guaran tees of equality, dignity and freedom of religion.” The association cited in cidents ranging from mobs disrupting prayer services and attacking carol groups to threats against vendors selling Christmas-related goods, vandalism of church property and intimidation of pastors and worshippers, especially in the run-up to and during Christmas. Fer nandes said the repeated nature of such incidents had created fear among or dinary Christians. “People are afraid even to celebrate their faith peacefully. That fear itself is a serious con stitutional failure,” he said. The CAG said these in cidents could not be dis missed as isolated lapses but amounted to repeated assaults on fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution, including equality before law, the right to life with dignity and the freedom of conscience and religion. As a recognised re ligious minority, Christians were also protected under provisions relating to cul tural and educational rights, yet their places of worship, schools and charitable in stitutions were increasingly being subjected to vilifica tion, threat and disruption. Raising concern over what it described as a growing perception of impunity, the association said several at tacks were credibly linked to fringe outfits aligned with or sympathetic to ruling politi cal forces, weakening public confidence in the neutrality of law enforcement. “When perpetrators act openly and repeatedly without conse quences, people inevitably feel that the law is no longer neutral,” Fernandes said. Invoking Article 355 of the Constitution, the CAG said the Union was du ty-bound to protect States against internal disturbance and ensure governance in accordance with constitu tional principles. Persistent and organised assaults on a peace-loving religious mi nority, if tolerated or inade quately addressed by State authorities, amounted to a serious failure of this consti tutional duty and eroded the secular and plural character of the Republic. In this context, the CAG urged the President to direct the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister to issue clear instructions to all States to provide adequate protection to churches, Christian insti tutions and religious gather ings, especially during major feasts. It also sought strict directions to ensure prompt registration of cases, prose cution of all those involved in attacks and hate campaigns irrespective of political or organisational backing, and zero tolerance for hate speech, vigilante violence and coercive disruptions of worship. The association further called for consulta tions with representative Christian bodies to frame a time-bound national plan for prevention and redressal. Alongside this representa tion, the CAG submitted a separate and more detailed note to the Governor focus ing on the broader impact of communal violence, particu larly anti-Christian violence, on India and Goa. “Protect ing minorities is not just a moral issue,” Fernandes said. “It is directly linked to India’s economic stability, investor confidence and in ternational standing.” The impact note warned that communal violence dis rupts local businesses, shuts markets, destroys property and livelihoods, and diverts scarce public funds from development to policing, relief and reconstruction. Areas affected by communal tension, it said, increasingly come to be viewed as high risk by investors, with pro jects and jobs quietly shift ing away from regions per ceived as volatile. Citing international as sessments, the association pointed out that violence was estimated to cost In dia nearly six per cent of its gross domestic product an nually, with communal ten sions forming a visible com ponent of this loss. For Goa, it said, the implications were particularly serious, as the State’s tourism, hospitality and services sectors depend heavily on an image of safe ty and communal harmony. “Goa’s economy survives on trust — trust of tourists, investors and visitors,” Fer nandes said. “Once that im age is damaged, the conse quences are long-term.” The note also highlighted damage to India’s global im age, stating that internation al reports and human-rights dossiers increasingly doc ument abuses against reli gious minorities, including violent attacks on churches and prayer meetings. Such assessments, it said, point to systemic failures rather than stray incidents. Media reports and think-tank anal yses have warned that rising attacks on Christians are detrimental to India’s stand ing internationally. Referring to recommenda tions made by international bodies, the association said repeated calls to designate India as a “Country of Par ticular Concern” on religious freedom, as well as dossiers submitted to foreign legis latures describing frequent attacks on Christians, have the potential to influence trade, investment flows and strategic partnerships. “This is why we have stressed that communal peace must be treated as economic policy,” Fernandes said. In its prayers to the Gover nor, the CAG requested that these concerns be conveyed to the President and the Union Government, along with a recommendation for a clear and public stance from constitutional author ities that hate crimes and religiously motivated vio lence will not be tolerated. It also urged State and Union governments to undertake regular review of communal hotspots, ensure rapid com pensation and rebuilding af ter incidents, and take visible action against those who in cite or organise violence. The association said it stood ready to partner with the State and Union govern ments in peace-building initi atives and legal-rights aware ness programmes. “We are committed to peace, non-vi olence and the Constitution,” Fernandes said. “All we ask for is equal protection of the law and the freedom to live and worship without fear.” Later, in a statement to the media, the CAG said its executive committee, which met in emergency session on December 26, had taken note of the alarming surge in targeted violence and hate campaigns against Chris tians across India in the run up to and during Christmas, and reiterated its appeal for decisive administrative ac tion to ensure harmonious coexistence
CAG moves Guv, Prez over anti-Christian violence
