CHRISTIAN-HINDU CONFLICTS IN INDIA A power point presentation submitted in partial fulfillment of the course on Capita Selecta II(B0B50a) for Society, Law & Religion to Prof. Dr. Marco Ventura by Paul Thou Ngaoni 2015

Summary HINDU-CHRISTIAN CONFLICT IN INDIA Hindu - Christian conflict in India is not a new phenomenon. India calls herself a model of religious tolerance but far from its assertion, the nation has witnessed the worst ever incidents of religious intolerance and persecution in history. Christianity in India is seen as a foreign religion and Christian missionaries are often accused of offering goods to Dalits as an inducement to convert to Christianity by Hindu extremists. Facts and figures proved that Christians have experienced increase oppression after the nationalistic Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party came to power federally in Going by the record, there were heinous attacks on Christians under BJP Government at the centre and BJP ruled states in 1999, 2000, 2007, 2008, 2010 by radical Hindu groups such Bajrang dal, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

T he most recent attacks on Churches and Christian schools in the capital are added evidence to the conflict and it has given rise to questioning of the BJP -Govt. which stormed to power in the last General Election. The sequence of attacks revealed patterns of an organized and well meditated action. Outward Government restrictions and democratic social protests were retaliated with subsequent attacks. Attack 1:1 Dec. 2014, St. Sebastian Church in Dilshad Garden, East Delhi was burnt. Attack 2: 6th Dec. 2014, Our Lady of Fatima church in southeast Delhi's Jasola area was attacked at 6pm when evening mass was being held. Attack 3: 3 Jan. 2014, The Christmas crib was charred on a church premises in Rohini, northwest Delhi Attack Jan. 2015, The Church in Vikaspuri, attack in vandalised Attack 5. 2 Feb. 2015, St. Alphonsa's church in south Delhi's Vasant Kunj area was broken into and stolen of property. Attack Feb. 2015, the Holy Child Auxilium school in Vasant Vihar area of south Delhi early on Friday was vandalised.

The Christian community in India seems to be under threat now that BJP is in power, a party presumed to have being backed by the Hindu fundamentalist groups such as Bajrang Dal, RSS and VHP. Since BJP came to power in December 2014, Christians in Delhi has suffered six specific attacks. No one ever disputed in conscience that those were the venom of Hindu extremists in collusion with the Government. They just represent symptoms of larger issues yet to unfold. These incidents have sent waves of insecurity to minority Christians across the country and even caught chains of fire in some places(not to mention them) against Christians. However, there is an angle, Christians themselves cannot ignore. Perhaps, Pierluigi Consorti's presentation on Pope Francis’ approach to conflicts within the Church is the task at hand for Christians in India. Conflict happens when self-interests of groups do not meet. Christians also have to chew the hard truth that some of its denominations had resorted to acts which are provocative.

But the responsibility to ensure peaceful co -existence rests with the government. While the Constitution ensures religious freedom for all which in principle ought to reduce violent religious persecution and conflict, it is far from being translated into action. The role of religion in Indian politics is undeniably crucial. Religion is never an independent factor in India. The Political parties conveniently use it as a tool for their purpose. The Government made tall claims of defending the rights of citizens of all faith to the World but the minority remains skeptical in the face of series of attacks despite assurance of protection. Citizens themselves should change this tide of religion-politics resurrected conflicts and pave way for peace by education of the masses, Christian – Hindu forum for dialogue, separation of Religion & Politics and press for neutrality of Government towards Religion. ___________

Christian – Hindu Conflicts

GENEOLOGY OF CONFLICTS HINDUISM is regarded as the indigenous religion of India with roots tracing back to prehistoric times, over 5,000 years ago. CHRISTIANITY on the other hand was believed to have been introduced to India by Thomas the Apostle in 52 CE. Hindus alleged that Christianity is a foreign religion and have accused Christian missionaries of offering money and goods to Dalits as an inducement to convert to Christianity. Religion in India, retrieved on 27/02/2015)

UNMATCHED CONFLICT BY NUMBERS At the census of 2001 Hindu = 827,578,868 (80.5%) Christianity = 24,080,016 (2.3%) Religion, 2001 Census Data, 27/02/2015)

Facts of Govt. affiliation Christians have experienced increase oppression after the nationalistic Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party came to power federally in Conflict continues even after the BJP was replaced by the Congress in Hindu-Christian violence in India, retrieved 27/02/2015)

Hindu-Christian conflicts unfolded 1999: Graham Stains, an Australian Christian missionary and his two young sons were burned to death in Orissa. 2000: During the first half of the year, there were 35 violent incidents in which Christians were victimized. 2007: During the Christmas holiday period, about 10 people were murdered, 90 churches were burned and 600 homes were destroyed in Orissa state. 2008: Clashes continued in Orissa state. The Washington Times reports, on AUG-23, a hard-line Hindu swami was murdered. Extremist Hindus went on a rampage against Orissa's minority Christians. 2010: Over 1,000 anti-Christian attacks have occurred in Karnataka state in southwest India. Christian investigators say Christian persecution increased after the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) became Karnataka's main ruling party in 2008.

Causes of Conflict 1. Hindutva: It is an ideology that sought to define Indian culture in terms of Hindu values, and it was highly critical of the secular policies and practices.

Causes of Conflict 2. Hypocritic Politics

Six church attacks in Delhi Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh under the MASK of Bharatiya Janata Party unveiled

Social reactions Protest over Delhi church attacks. Nitisha Kashyap, The Times of India, 05/02/2015, Protest-over-Delhi-church-attacks-police-detain protestors/articleshow/ cms

External intervention Barack Obama: ‘Acts of intolerance’ in India would have shocked Mahatma Gandhi. Lalit K Jha, The Indian Express, 06/02/2015, have-shocked-mahatma-gandhi-barack-obama/

Church attacks in Delhi A pattern of violence in the name of Religion

GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS President Pranab Mukherjee: Religion cannot be made cause of conflict. The Indian Express, 25/01/2015, president-pranab-mukherjee/2

PM Narendra Modi breaks his silence, says “my Govt. will ensure undeniable right to retain, adopt religion of choice.” Abantika Ghosh, The Indian Express, 18/02/2015, church- attacks-says-govt-committed-to-religious-freedom /

GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS Rajnath Singh on Delhi Church attack: Religious discrimination won't be tolerated. DNA, 05/02/2015,

Personal comments 1.Religion for Politics in India. - Vote bank politics on religious line.

Personal comments 2. Religious Conflict as a means to political end. Political party affiliation to fundamentalist organizations.

Personal comments 3. Communalism Christians are looked upon as enemies of Hindu-majority, a foreign seed in the native soil. Hence, communal agenda – Christian conversions

Proposed Measures to resolve Christian- Hindu Conflicts 1.Education of the Masses. Fear and Hatred as a result of ignorance.

Proposed Measures to resolve Christian- Hindu Conflicts 2. Christian – Hindu forum for dialogue

Proposed Measures to resolve Christian- Hindu Conflicts 3. Separation of Religion & Politics. Neutrality of Government towards Religion. ______