Amid growing intolerance and violence against India’s Christian minority, who make up just 2% of India’s population, a number of Christmas related events (including prayer services) were targeted in the month of December mostly in BJP-ruled states by Hindu right wing groups, who alleged Christians were using such festivities to force Hindus to convert. In Assam, two protesters in saffron, the signature colour of Hindu nationalism, entered a Presbyterian church on Christmas night and disrupted proceedings, demanding that all Hindus leave the building. In Haryana, a day after Christmas, a Jesus statue was torn down and the Holy Redeemer Church in Ambala was vandalised in the early hours.
According to a report by organisation Persecution Relief, crimes against Christians have increased by 60% from 2016 to 2019. Surprisingly, the BJP leaders are still heard calling their political party as a truly secular party of India. Now, isn't that most shameful and shocking? I therefore think that it is high time for the Christian community to take a serious note of the above mentioned serious incidents and to outright reject a known rabid communal political party like the BJP by supporting any other party in the upcoming assembly elections for the betterment of our future generations in Goa.
