The increasing number of attacks on Christian churches and properties in India has prompted the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) to respond with a call to promote social justice and equality.
"Churches are vandalized, pastors and evangelists are attacked, false accusations of forced conversions are made against them, Christian believers are threatened, leaders of Christian institutions are forced to follow orders, people are denied the right to burial," summarizes a press release issued by NCCI on July 18.
"Such incidents are being reported in many parts of India, especially in the states of Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Orissa and Assam," according to the NCCI, which is made up of 30 Protestant and Orthodox churches, 17 local Christian councils and around 25 national organizations. "There are more and more attacks and it is becoming a big problem for us," NCCI General Secretary Rev. Roger Gaikwad told ENInews.
Gaikwad said the NCCI has sent their press release to the Home Minister urging the government not to allow "fascist and fundamentalist forces".
The statement states that the NCCI is against forced conversions and blames "the nexus of economic, social and political forces (Hindu nationalists) for the attacks on Christians". At the same time, it emphasizes that these incidents have increased NCCI members' focus on social justice and equality.
"The principles of freedom, justice, equality, peace and love are being undermined in our society. We therefore call on mature citizens of the country to stand firm against forces that politicize religion and criminalize politics," the statement reads.
