The reference made by the Supreme Court to the petition of Archbishop of Bangalore Dr. Peter Machado and two organizations is very comforting. The court said that the atrocities against Christians in India are very unfortunate. The court also observed that the petition filed against the violence and hate propaganda against Christians is relevant and timely, and could be heard on the first day after the holiday.
The increasing persecution of Christians in various Indian states in recent times has received very limited media attention and discussion. It is clear that such persecution and atrocities are on the rise in proportion to the growing BJP-Sangh Parivar influence in each state. More worrying is the fact that secular values in India are being sacrificed, rather than the fact that Christians are being persecuted. Secular India cannot contain the view that religion and communalism are gaining political momentum and humanity is declining. Therefore, this court reference is comforting to all those who want secular values to prevail here.
It is a matter of grave concern that there have been 1112 incidents of violence against Christians in this country in the last three years. India has been ranked at the forefront of Christian persecution in journals such as the World Watch List, which monitors Christian persecution globally. Globally, it is disgraceful that India is losing its image of secularism, brotherhood and religious tolerance that it once had. Today's style of sacrificing secular attitudes and returning to primitive religious ideology is extremely dangerous. Anyone who thinks that such a change will help to deal with any kind of threat is a myth.
Eight years after the Narendra Modi-led BJP government came to power, every year there is an increase in incidents of violence and mob attack on religious and communal issues. In such cases, the victims are more likely to be ignored by the authorities than to receive justice. In states where anti-conversion laws have been enacted, there have been a number of violent incidents of abuse of that law. It is unfortunate that the color and nature of governance and the administration of justice are changing in this way and making life difficult for the minority-weaker sections. It is to be hoped that the Supreme Court will intervene fairly in this serious matter.
Rising Terrorism - Terrorist Activities and Allied Attacks
Kanayyalal, a tailor in Udaipur, Rajasthan, was hacked to death yesterday for posting on social media in support of BJP leader Nupur Sharma who allegedly made blasphemous remarks. When the killer, who had arrived at a sewing shop in disguise to take measurement for stitching, suddenly attacked the tailor, his accomplice was filming it. The attackers themselves spread the video on social media. It was in a north Indian state that Islamic extremists staged a show of force by committing this heinous crime. It is a fact that such threats are even more prevalent in Kerala, where Prof. T. J Joseph's amputation was a similar act of revenge.
Nowadays, a growing number of people think that slashing and beheading can underline their ideology, building a new republic based on another ideology. It is a fact that the growing social and communal friction will increase insecurity, fundamentalism and hateful tendencies. That is not to say that the influence and extremist activities of radical religious thinkers are on the rise in India because of this. The activities and development of the two ideologies need to be approached with equal seriousness.
The future of India will be even more worrisome if the various communities do not stand firm in their commitment to humanity while maintaining religious tolerance, secular thinking and a spirit of brotherhood. Religion and creed need to enable an individual and society to love and embrace each other. Everyone must be prepared to give up everything that causes them to threaten and intimidate each other. Forums should be set up for healthy debates and discussions and governments should work to resolve these crises.