Modi has not visited Manipur even once since the outbreak of violence last year even though he’s made more than 160 visits to other states across the country.
On July 12, nearly a month after Modi was elected as prime minister for the third consecutive term, Christian leaders, led by the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, Archbishop Andrews Thazhath, visited the prime minister to express their concerns over the harassment and exclusion of Christians, as well as the gross misuse of anti-conversion laws.
“The prime minister said he will look into our problems,” said the Rev. Robinson Rodrigues, public relations officer for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference. “There is no point in being in denial because the records and newspaper reports are there for all to see.”
Christian leaders who have lost faith in the Modi government said they hope India’s judiciary will help broker peace and deter the religious fundamentalists.
“Christians today are just political baggage in India, where the Hindu nationalism project is being used to polarize society and reap political dividends.” said Vijayesh Lal, secretary general of the Evangelical Fellowship of India. “Our only hope is the higher judiciary.”
But while the courts have largely protected the Christian community and presented Christian legal interests with significant wins, they have sometimes safeguarded majoritarian interests, fueling fear among minorities.
Still, many civil society leaders aren’t caving to the multiplying threats and intimidations.
“Since Stan Swamy’s death, we’ve been organizing many advocacy programs,” said AC Michael, referring to a Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist who died in 2021 in state custody for his work helping religious minorities. “Catholic leaders have become much more vocal now and civil society is supporting us against all odds.”
This article originally appeared here.
