New Delhi -- Leading human rights groups have urged the Indian National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to take urgent steps to safeguard the rights of Christians in the western state of Rajasthan.
"The rights of the [Christian] community have been violated. They have been forced to live in terror," said Kavita Srivastava, general secretary of the Rajasthan unit of People's Union for Civil Liberties, which has petitioned India's human rights commission on behalf of the Christian community.
The civil liberties union - India's oldest and largest human rights organization - and a dozen other rights groups released a report last week on the situation of Christians in the Ajmer district of the state, said Srivastava.
The problems started after a Catholic priest was accused of molesting a Christian boy at St Martin School at Bhawani Kheda, the report said. Some Hindu groups used the alleged incident to run a "hate campaign" against the state's tiny Christian community, according to the report.
The accusation against the priest should have been treated like any other criminal allegations, Srivastava said, but was instead "communalized".
"The event was used to terrorize the local Christian population, tarnish the image of the institutions run by them for decades and also get the re-conversions carried out," said Srivastava, referring to pressure applied to Christian families to return to the Hindu fold.
Fundamentalists led a Hindu family boycott, withdrawing 231 students from the Catholic school and forcibly locking up a hostel, in effect barring 75 poor students who had been staying in the student housing from entering.
Later, leaders of the Hindu fundamentalist Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) visited the area and converted dozens of Christian families back to Hinduism, after threatening them with a social boycott.
Catholic Bishop Ignatius Menezes of the diocese of Ajmer-Jaipur said: "Our people are under great pressure to reconvert."
Christian families that have refused to sign a declaration of re-conversion "cannot enter some [Hindu] shops or even buy vegetables," the bishop told the reporters.
The state of affairs in Bhawani Kheda was not an isolated situation, Menezes asserted, but part of a "consistent hate campaign" being carried out against Christians in remote villages throughout the desert state. Christians make up less than half a per cent of the state's 55 million population
.
"We are living in fear," said the bishop.
By Anto Akkara
-
World’s highest IQ holder declares christian faith: “Jesus Christ Is God”
Dr. YoungHoon Kim, recognized as the person with the world’s highest recorded IQ, has publicly declared his Christian faith, stating that “Jesus Christ is God.” His statement, made on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, has gained global attention for its direct affirmation of belief from one of the world’s most prominent intellects.
-
Michael Tait faces new allegations of sexual assault, drugging, and abuse — Two victims were minors
Michael Tait, longtime frontman of Christian bands DC Talk and Newsboys, is facing mounting accusations of sexual assault, drug use, and abuse — with a growing list of alleged victims, including two who were minors at the time of the incidents.
-
Rhett Walker responds to allegations against Michael Tait, urges fairness toward CCM industry
Christian music artist Rhett Walker has issued a strong statement following public allegations against former Newsboys frontman Michael Tait, calling for accountability for individuals but warning against condemning the Christian Contemporary Music (CCM) industry as a whole.
-
Bear Rinehart responds to brother Bo’s abuse allegations: “Our story is more complicated than that”
Bear Rinehart, lead singer of the American rock band NEEDTOBREATHE, has publicly responded to serious allegations made by his younger brother and former bandmate, Bo Rinehart. In a recent Instagram post, Bo accused Bear of subjecting him to sexual, physical, and emotional abuse during their childhood.
-
Madison Prewett opens up about freedom by God from porn and masturbation addiction
The Bachelor alum Madi Prewett has publicly shared her personal journey of overcoming pornography and masturbation addiction, crediting her Christian faith as the source of her healing and long-term freedom.