25

Dec

How Merry Is This Christmas

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Syed Khaleeq Ahmed

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New Delhi | Wednesday | 25 December 2024

December 25 or Bada Din as we call it is   here and it is time to say Merry Christmas  to all friends and family members. While children expect to get good gifts from Santa Claus  we look ahead to  enjoy  delicious cakes and Xmas parties . But is the Christmas really merry for us in India this time ? 

With a staggering 745 incidents of violence against Christians reported in India this year until November, an all-time high, the United Christian Forum (UCF) has called on the Modi government to establish a national-level inquiry, led by a Secretary-level official, to investigate the persecution of the Christian minority in the country.

 

UCF National Coordinator and former Member of the Delhi Minorities Commission, A. C. Michael, in a statement, on Friday noted that when a minority in Bangladesh was assaulted, a special emissary at the Secretary level was sent by the Government of India to engage in dialogue with the Bangladeshi government.

 

According to complaints received on the UCF Helpline, there were 127 incidents in 2014, 142 in 2015, 226 in 2016, 248 in 2017, 292 in 2018, 328 in 2019, 279 in 2020, 505 in 2021, 601 in 2022, 734 in 2023, and 745 incidents by the end of November 2024.

 

Article at a Glance
 
As Christmas approaches on December 25, the festive spirit is overshadowed by a troubling rise in violence against Christians in India. The United Christian Forum (UCF) reported a record 745 incidents of violence against Christians this year, prompting calls for a national inquiry by the Modi government. A. C. Michael, UCF's National Coordinator, highlighted the government's swift action in similar situations abroad, urging a comparable response at home.
 
The UCF criticized anti-conversion laws in 12 states, warning that recent amendments could violate constitutional rights. Uttar Pradesh remains the most affected state, with 182 incidents reported this year. The UCF also noted the lack of data on violence in Manipur and the complicity of local police in these attacks. Furthermore, they expressed concern over the absence of Christian representation in government bodies, emphasizing the systematic denial of their rights. Amidst this turmoil, the UCF continues to provide support through its helpline for those facing persecution.

 

The UCF has also slammed the politically motivated anti-conversion laws in 12 states across India, warning that the recent amendment bill in Uttar Pradesh, mirroring draconian statutes like PMLA and UAPA, could violate Article 25, as pointed out by the Supreme Court.

Last year too, from January to November 2023, Uttar Pradesh topped the list with 287 incidents, fueling the surge in violence, as the UCF received reports of 687 incidents of violence against Christians, with 531 of these incidents occurring in four states of North India.

As of October 2024, Uttar Pradesh still reported the highest number of incidents, with 182 cases, followed by Chhattisgarh with 139 incidents, out of a total of 673 incidents reported across India on the UCF helpline.

The UCF stated, “This means many other incidents may have occurred but were not reported through our hotline, and are not included in the total number.”

UCF also pointed out that, once again, no data on attacks on humans and churches in Manipur has been included. The Christian body said, “Last year, the tragic violence, bloodshed, and the demolition of over 200 churches in Manipur were also not reflected in the UCF figures.”

A shocking report by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) reveals that local police are complicit in the violence against Christians, turning a blind eye to the atrocities committed by perpetrators.

The Christian forum lamented that a petition filed with the Supreme Court, demanding strict action against anti-Christian vigilante groups engaged in violence against Christians in India, has not been heard again since the initial hearings in 2022.

Complaining about the lack of Christian representation in various government bodies, the UCF stated that the constitutional rights of Christians are being systematically denied, particularly their right to political representation, given the small size of the Christian population.

The UCF has especially raised concerns over the denial of Anglo-Indian reservations and the continued absence of Christian members in both the National Commission for Minorities and the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions for over five years, calling it a blatant violation of their rights. Additionally, it also complained that state minority commissions remain without Christian representation.

Amid a disturbing surge in violence against Christians in India since the Modi-led government took power in 2014, the UCF launched a the toll-free helpline, 1-800-208-4545, on January 19, 2015. According to the body, this service was designed to help those in distress, offering guidance on how to approach public authorities and secure legal remedies in the face of escalating persecution.

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