Christians in prayer assaulted and humiliated in Karnataka.
(jJan. 25, 2012) In southern India’s Karnataka State, dozens of Hindu activists
of the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) on Monday attacked 20 Christians of the
Fellowship of New Life in a private house, 3km from the town of Haliyal in Uttar Kannada
District. Accusing those present of proselytism and forced conversions, the ultranationalists
beat Kishore Kavalekar, a layman and 27-year-old Rev. Kalappa Chandrakanth Chavan,
in the presence of his wife and 3 year old daughter. After tearing the clothes of
the pastor, the activists dragged him in front of the whole village. Finally, attackers
tied him to a tree near a Hindu temple and called the Haliyal police, who arrested
Rev. Chandrakanth and Kishore, imprisoning them for 24 hours, leaving the RSS activists
to roam free. Sajan George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians,
(GCIC) said "Even in 2012, there is no respite for the Christians. We are already
at the third anti-Christian, incident in the first month of the year." Since 2008,
Karnataka State has been led by the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), an ultra-nationalist
party that supports groups and movements of Hindu extremists belonging to the wide
umbrella of the Sangh Parivar. Among these, the RSS, the VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad)
and Bajrang Dal, are often responsible for the violence against Dalits and Christians.
The President of the GCIC said "The complicity between the government forces and the
ultra-nationalist BJP is seriously endangering the survival of Christians in Karnataka.
Noting that on 26 January, India celebrates the 62nd Republic Day, he said “It is
imperative that the secular credentials of our Constitution are guaranteed.”