Easter without peace for Christians in India as Hindu extremists unleash more violence
(March 27, 2013) Christians in some parts of India are victims of aggression and
violence, even during Lent while they prepare for Easter - the Catholic Church’s
greatest feast that celebrates the Resurrection of the Lord, said Sajan K. George,
president of the Global Council of Indian Christians – GCIC. He pointed to attacks
that took place in March in eastern India’s Chhattisgarh State and in the southern
Indian State of Kerala. The Christian leader launched an appeal to the National
Human Rights Commission (NHRC) saying that this is the most important week of the
year and the Christian minorities should have greater protection and security. He
said on March 13 in Gadia, Chhattisgarh State, a group of Hindu fundamentalists accompanied
by administrative personnel and police demolished a church, claiming it had been built
illegally. The local community tried to intervene, but the group physically and verbally
attacked the Christians, not sparing women and children. Before demolishing the church,
the Hindu radicals and officials destroyed Bibles, musical instruments and pews, and
then desecrated other sacred objects. Earlier on March 10, hundreds of Hindu extremists
attacked a prayer service of the Brethren Assembly Church, in a village in Trivandrum,
Kerala, beating those present with wooden sticks, accusing them of practicing forced
conversions. Stating that this anti-Christian sentiment bodes ill for a peaceful
and solemn religious celebration of Easter, the GCIC appealed for protection from
the state administration, to enable the Christian citizens of Secular India exercise
their Consitutionally guaranteed Religious Freedom. Source: Asianews