Indian president urged to address rising attacks on Christians in BJP-ruled states
New Delhi: The All India People’s Front (AIPF), an Indian political party based in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, has urged Indian President Droupadi Murmu to intervene in the alarming rise of violence against the Christian community across the country, particularly in BJP-ruled states.
According to Kashmir Media Service, in a memorandum submitted to the Indian President’s Secretariat, the AIPF highlighted numerous complaints received from Christian citizens and community representatives regarding increasing attacks, harassment, and a growing sense of insecurity. The memorandum authored by AIPF founding member Akhilendra Pratap Singh and national president S.R. Darapuri, was formally submitted by national treasurer Dinkar Kapoor and national working committee member Rajesh Sachan.
Citing data compiled by the United Christian Forum, the AIPF’s memorandum said that incidents of violence against Christians have increased by nearly 500 per cent over the past decade. More than three-fourths of the reported cases were from five states—Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand—most of which are governed by the BJP. Uttar Pradesh accounted for the highest number of incidents, it said.
The memorandum lists a range of violent acts, including attacks on pastors, nuns, and ordinary Christian citizens; assaults on churches and prayer meetings; social and economic boycotts; misuse of anti-conversion laws; arbitrary arrests; and obstruction of burial rights. The organisation also said that in several cases police and administrative authorities either failed to act or displayed bias, exacerbating fear and insecurity within the community.
The AIPF condemned these acts as grave violations of India’s constitutional guarantees and international human rights commitments. The memorandum stresses that the rising tide of violence is incompatible with India’s commitments to protecting minority rights and religious freedom.
The AIPF has urged the Indian president Murmu to advise the BJP-led Indian government and state governments to ensure the safety of minorities, order impartial investigations, take strict action against those responsible, review the misuse of anti-conversion laws, and strengthen institutions mandated to protect minority rights.
