New Delhi: Amid growing hostilities and threats from radical Hindu groups, Christian community leaders across India have voiced grave concerns over increasing violence and discrimination. On June 9, a 50-member Christian delegation, led by the Political Christian Front, submitted a formal memorandum to the Jabalpur District Collector, urging President Droupadi Murmu to intervene in the deteriorating situation.

The memorandum, endorsed by representatives from various Christian denominations, was a response to what they described as a daily onslaught of harassment—including fabricated allegations of forced conversions and physical attacks on believers. Atul Joseph, who headed the delegation, told UCA News that the appeal to the President was necessary given the unchecked rise in targeted hostility. The Collector assured the delegation that the appeal would be forwarded to Rashtrapati Bhavan for due consideration.

The document underscores the irony that Christians—who make up just 2.3% of India’s 1.4 billion people—have long been defenders of the nation’s secular and democratic values, yet are increasingly branded as outsiders. It alleges that right-wing Hindu organizations have made it increasingly dangerous for Christians to hold even peaceful prayer meetings in certain states.

Particularly vulnerable are Christians from Dalit and Adivasi backgrounds, the memorandum states. These communities are not only marginalized socially but are also at the receiving end of heightened aggression and fear-mongering. The leaders have urged President Murmu to step in to curb the misuse of anti-conversion laws, which are being selectively applied in states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh to stifle religious freedom.

The memorandum also calls for strict action against the deliberate misrepresentation of churches and Christian prayer events as hubs for illegal religious conversions. The Christian leadership emphasized that such false narratives fuel communal tensions and threaten the peaceful coexistence of religious minorities.

In their plea, the leaders stressed that safeguarding India’s constitutional promise of religious freedom is essential—not just for Christians, but for the integrity and pluralism of the nation itself.