By Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has ruled India since 2014, has come to power with the support of extremist Hindu factions and small parties.
Indeed, the BJP has provided a platform for many Hindu extremist political parties and groups. Their program is to transform India into a pure Hindu state. They wanted all non-Hindus to convert to Hinduism or leave India. They were targeting Muslims, Christians, and low-caste Hindus. They asked Muslims to return to the Middle East and Christians to move to Europe..
A report published by Indian Express on 23 October states that over 300 incidents of violence targeting the Christian community were reported this year in the country with Uttar Pradesh topping the list.
According to the NGO United Against Hate, Association for Protection of Civil Rights, and United Christian Forum, these incidents primarily happened in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, and Delhi. Kerala also found a place in the list, according to the report ‘Christians Under Attack in India’.
Speaking at the press conference, A.C. Michael, the former member of the Delhi Minorities Commission and National Coordinator of the United Christian Forum (UCF), said, “The fears which are being fueled of Christians converting Hindus is baseless. The brutal attacks have taken place across 21 states. Most of the incidents are taking place in the northern states and 288 instances were of mob violence. This is a scary situation, raising critical questions over the role and the position of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the home ministry and their failures in stopping this violence”.
He also added, “Over 49 FIRs have been registered too, but no substantial action has taken place”.
Uttar Pradesh topped the chart with about 80 cases followed by Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, and Kerala. Addressing the media, United Christian forum national coordinator AC Michael said there have been constant attacks against the minority community in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
“Christians are not being allowed to practice their faith and are being attacked. A group of more than 200 landed up in a church in Roorkee (Uttarakhand) where a pastor was conducting a prayer, with the people claiming that he had been converting people. I want to know how many have been converted, the government should share information. There are so many officials who have studied in convent schools. Have all of them converted?” he asked.
A fact-finding report was also presented regarding the October 3 Roorkee mob attack. It noted that despite prior complaints, police officials in Roorkee did not provide security to the church and the family prior to the attack.
At the time of the attack, the police were informed and calls were made to the police station but the police team arrived when the violent mob dispersed on its own.
It is worth mentioning that the population of India is 1.2 billion, out of which, around 200 million are Muslims, 150 million are Christians, 100 million are Sikhs, and a significant number of other religions. Among Hindus, there are four castes, the upper caste is Berhaman, which constitutes only 6% of the whole population approximately, but are the ruling elite and control all powers.
The international community is appealing to save the victims, either they are Muslims, Christians or low-caste Hindus, or any other group. All individuals have fundamental rights, according to the UN charter, and they should be respected and implemented in a true spirit. Irrespective of race, religion, ethnicity, caste, all human beings should be protected. Raise your voice for victims and pressure the aggressors to stop discrimination and brutalities against the weaker.
Author: Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan – Sinologist (ex-Diplomat), Editor, Analyst, Non-Resident Fellow of CCG (Center for China and Globalization), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan.
(The views and opinions expressed in this article are only of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinion or position of World Geostrategic Insights).