Citizens’ group condemn invitation to Modi for Christmas event
New Delhi: A group of 196 citizens, many of them Christians, has condemned the invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Christmas celebrations hosted by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) in New Delhi.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the group, which includes Mahatma Gandhi’s great-grandson Tushar Gandhi, Communist Party of India leader Annie Raja, and Jesuit priest Father Cedric Prakash, stated that Modi has failed to protect Christians and has ignored the ongoing persecution of the community in India.
The statement highlighted the rise in violence against Christians driven by Hindutva nationalism. The group noted 327 incidents of violence against Christians in 2021, 486 in 2022, and 745 incidents between January and November 2023.
The statement further read, “We urge Christian leadership to hold Narendra Modi accountable for not protecting Christians in India”. The group also criticized symbolic gestures, stating they fail to address the widespread violence, harassment, and ostracization faced by Christians in the country.
Earlier this year, over 3,000 Christians protested against community leaders attending Christmas celebrations hosted by Modi, citing laws against religious conversion in BJP-ruled states as a major concern.
