CHRISTIANITY UNDER ATTACK IN HINDU INDIA

Bombay: Over 50,000 Christians in Bombay on May 6 took part in a solidarity march”, the first of a series of protests against the denial of entry to Christian ministers in Arunachal Pradesh, failure of the Government to protect Christians and their property in Kanyakumari and the denial of permanent affiliation and recognition to St. John’s Medical College at Bangalore by the Bangalore University. The march. organised by the Society for Protection of Fundamental Rights, Bombay, and the St. John’s Medical College Parents Association, is said to be one of the biggest taken out by the Christian community in recent years. The processionist wore black bands and carried placards inscribed with their demands. The demands also include ban on communal organisations indulging in fanatic and violent activities, protection from atrocities and damage to their lives and property and repeal of the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act and similar Acts in other States. The processionists on their way from the Azad Maidan to the Cross Maidan sang prayers & raised slogans. In a press release the organisers have alleged that Christians in Arunachal Pradesh are deprived of the right to practice and propagate their faith and are even denied a Christian burial. “Strangely, though India is secular, Christianity and Islam are discriminated against in the State as being foreign religions”. In Kanyakumari simple Christian fishermen were shot dead, their houses destroyed. nuns molested and many Christian churches damaged. As regards St. John’s Medical College though the minorities have a fundamental Addressing the rally George Menezes said that the Christians were “unable to attend mass and other religious services were also denied burial rites as there were no priests to perform them”. He blamed “communal fanatics” in the Bangalore University senate for denying minority status to St. John’s Medical College. Referring to the killings in Kanyakumari, he said investigations had indicated that “outside elements” had entered that region to sow seeds of discord among Hindus and Christians. Suresh, a retired judge, explained the constitutional provisions of Articles 14, 19, 25 and 30 and said right-thinking Indians should sympathise with the minorities in their demands. Among the other speakers were Maulana Abbas Rizvi, Philips Almeida, Dr. Simon Fernandes, Ex-mayor of Bombay. StanleyD’Souza and a Shiv Sena leader. A delegation comprising Mamen Babu, secretary of the society. Willie Fernandes, Maj Gen. Eustace D’Souza. Tony Rodrigues and Frank Miranda called on the Governor and presented a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister. (Times of India, May-7)