[India] Christian Groups in India Urged a Probe Into Surge in Violence Against Christians

“Through Jesus, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise.”

Christian rights and interest protection groups in India have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to launch a nationwide investigation immediately to address the growing violence against Christians, the Christian Post recently reported. This comes as Christians in India face surges in incidents such as “tragic violence, bloodshed, and the destruction of dozens of churches.”

A.C. Michael, national coordinator of The United Christian Forum (UCF), pointed out that after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), PM Modi’s Hindu nationalist-leaning party, took power in 2014, attacks on Christians had surged. The group warned that the actual scale of violence would be much larger since there are many unreported incidents.

In particular, data on incidents of sectarian violence in India’s northeastern state of Manipur were not reflected in the statistics. Since May 2023, there has been violence in Manipur, with more than 200 churches destroyed due to disputes between the Kuki and Meitei tribes. The UCF has also expressed dissatisfaction with the delay in judicial actions.

The plea for strict action against anti-Christian vigilante groups filed in India’s Supreme Court in 2022 has been delayed since the end of the first hearing. Michael urged PM Modi to “consider a state-level investigation for the growing persecution of Christian minorities in India,” and also complained of delays in judicial actions.

The UCF’s demands highlight tensions between India’s religious minorities and the government, raising concerns about India’s secular structure amid deepening religious polarisation. India ranks 11th on the Open Door Mission’s Global Persecution Watchlist. Due to the Modi government’s ongoing actions against Christian and ministry organisations, in 2024, India was reclassified as a “restricted nation”.

Anti-conversion laws, which prohibit suggesting Hindus to consider other religions, have been passed in several Indian states, and movements to push for similar federal legislation are also supported. A report said that in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, Hindu nationalist groups are using social media to target Christians and intimidate them to convert to Hinduism.

The church continues to grow despite the government’s restrictions on Christianity and the arrests of numerous pastors. One pastor said, “God’s touch is on India, and it is time to bring the gospel to the lost, not just in India, but throughout the world.” (Source: Gospel Prayer Newspaper)

And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. (Hebrews13:12, 14-15)

God, we thank You for allowing the church in India to bear fruit and grow, even as persecution against Christianity has intensified under Prime Minister Modi and his party’s leadership. Lord, we pray that You guide the government to investigate the oppression of Christians and lead them to turn away from these actions. We declare that no scheme of Satan, no restrictions on Christianity or ministry organizations, and no loss of religious freedom through legal revisions can silence the praises of Jesus Christ from the hearts of Your saints. Lord, in the midst of turmoil, help the Indian church to remember the suffering of Christ and His eternal kingdom. Strengthen them to proclaim the message of the cross and the power of the resurrection that conquered death, bringing hope and salvation to the nation. Amen.

Prayer 24·365
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