Team Herald
MARGAO: Over 400 senior Christian leaders and 30 church groups issued an urgent appeal to the President of India Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling for decisive action to address the mounting wave of violence against Christians throughout the nation.
This appeal specifically addresses at least 14 documented incidents of violence, threats, and disruptions that targeted Christian gatherings across the country during the Christmas season, the leaders and church groups detailed in their press release.
Expressing profound concern over the alarming trend of intolerance and hostility, the appeal was signed by prominent Christian leaders including Thomas Abraham, David Onesimu, Joab Lohara, Richard Howell, Mary Scaria, Cedric Prakash S J, John Dayal, Prakash Louis S J, Zelhou Keyho, E H Kharkongor, Allen Brooks, K Losii Mao, Akhilesh Edgar, Michael Willams, A C Michael, and Vijayesh Lal.
The leaders presented comprehensive documentation from two major organisations: the Evangelical Fellowship of India has reported over 720 incidents of violence targeting Christians, while the United Christian Forum has independently recorded 760 cases between January and November 2024, underscoring the widespread nature of these incidents.
The appeal draws attention to multiple systemic concerns plaguing the community, including the widespread misuse of anti-conversion laws, escalating threats to religious freedom, the proliferation of hate speech, and discriminatory policies that continue to deny Dalit Christians their Scheduled Caste status. The Christian leaders specifically emphasised the urgent need for the PM’s intervention in Manipur, where ongoing violence has resulted in over 250 deaths, the destruction of 360 churches, and the displacement of thousands of residents since May 2023.