Christian Leaders In Madhya Pradesh stress on unity to counter anti-christian issues
May 24, 2006
(UCAN) — Church leaders in a central Indian state say Christians emphasize on the need for greater unity among different denominations to safeguard their community from violence.
The Catholic Bishop Gerald Almeida of Jabalpur , a diocese in Madhya Pradesh spoke with UCA News several days after he led a delegation to meet Governor Balram Jhakhar and seek protection for Christians and their institutions.
During a meeting, the Christian delegates presented the governor a memorandum asking for withdrawal of what they say are false charges against members of their community.
The memorandum also demanded “a free and fair probe” into cases of alleged religious conversion registered against Christians. The delegation called for the probe to be conducted either by the Central Bureau of Investigation, a federal agency, or by a Supreme Court judge.
Bishop Almeida noted that the state has experienced a spurt of violent attacks on Christians and Christian institutions, especially since the beginning of this year. Jabalpur district alone has had 13 incidents of anti-Christian violence this year.
The Church of North India (CNI) Bishop Prem Chand Singh of Jabalpur, another member of the delegation, also stressed on interdenominational unity to counter the crisis faced by the Indian church.
Accusing the police of being biased, the Protestant prelate alleged that police register false cases of conversion against Christians when they go to file complaints against their attackers. “There should be more unity among different denominations to address such issues jointly,” he added.
Madhya Pradesh is one of five Indian states in which religious conversion is regulated by law, with moves underway in two more states to do the same. Church leaders here say the government increasingly uses the police to muzzle Christians, who form less than 1 percent of the 60 million population.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (Indian people’s party) now rules Madhya Pradesh. Many people consider it the political arm of groups trying to turn India from a secular country into a Hindu nation.
The Indian Constitution allows people to practice and propagate their religion, but Hindu extremists depict Christianity and Islam as foreign religions that do not respect Indian culture and tradition. Bishop Almeida said the delegation was happy with its meeting with the governor. He quoted the governor as saying, “Don’t worry bishop, everything will be done, and go in peace.”
Reverend Cyril Cornelius, a Methodist delegate, told UCA News the governor immediately instructed a senior police official present to probe the charges and report back. He said the governor was furious about the way the police handled the situation and directed officials not to register any cases of conversion against Christians without proper investigation.
Cornelius said he suspects the government orchestrated these attacks as a prelude toward making the existing anti-conversion law more stringent. A person charged under the existing law is able to arrange bail from the police station, but Cornelius predicted the government would try to amend the law so that a person charged with conversion would be jailed immediately.
