Christian groups launch peace campaign in West Bengal amid rising attacks
Kolkata: Christian organizations in the Indian state of West Bengal have launched a statewide campaign to promote communal harmony amid growing hate campaigns, misinformation and attacks targeting churches and the Christian community.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the initiative was announced by Bangiya Christiya Pariseba (BCP) at a press conference in Kolkata. The campaign will feature 100 regional peace rallies, interfaith dialogue programs, 100 roundtable discussions and a mass prayer gathering later this year expected to draw around 100,000 participants.
BCP leaders said the campaign was prompted by a series of recent incidents, including the vandalism of churches in several parts of West Bengal and an increase in anti-Christian rhetoric. They the roundtable discussions would bring together academics, writers, artists and religious leaders to examine the impact of hate campaigns on communal harmony, while a digital outreach campaign would counter misinformation and hate speech.
The organization also announced plans to establish a broader coordination platform linking Christian organizations across 11 eastern and northeastern Indian states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Jharkhand, to collectively address issues affecting Christian communities.
Among the incidents highlighted by the organization was the July 5 vandalism of an under-construction church in Subhasgram, on the outskirts of Kolkata, where unidentified persons damaged a cross installed on the roof and parts of the building. Similar attacks were also reported in Barasat and West Midnapore district of West Bengal.
Bishop Paritosh Canning, Moderator of the Church of North India and President of the Bengal Christian Council, urged the West Bengal government to ensure the safety and security of churches and other Christian institutions.
Church leaders and human rights organizations have documented a sharp rise in attacks on churches, pastors and Christian prayer gatherings across India in recent years. Most of these incidents have been attributed to by Hindutva groups, who accuse Christians of carrying out forced religious conversions, allegations consistently rejected by Christian organizations.
