Early June sees the result of the Indian general election, with Christian groups and governmental organisations expressing concerns about the impact the expected re-election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi might have on religious freedom.
Almost a billion voters are taking part. Release International, which supports persecuted Christian worldwide, has drawn attention to keynote new statistics which detail a dramatic increase in acts of violence against Christians in India. The Evangelical Fellowship of India has uncovered a record 601 cases of persecution against Christians in 2023 – a rise of 45% on the previous year. And the United Christian Forum says the violence has continued into 2024. Their latest report lists more than 160 attacks in the first quarter of this year alone.
Andrew Boyd of Release, speaking exclusively to Evangelicals Now, commented: ‘India’s evangelicals are the main target of rising anti-Christian violence on the sub-continent. The reason is simple: they are rocking the boat by sharing their faith with Hindus – especially India’s Dalit underclass. These are the so-called untouchables, the lowest of the low who are brought up to believe they are less than human.
‘When they hear the gospel message that God made them in His image, loves them, and values them so highly that He gave His only Son, Jesus, to lay down His life for them, they respond with joy and gratitude. But just as in Jesus’ day, the religious leaders and those in authority are determined to silence the gospel message. They didn’t succeed in Jesus’ day, and they won’t succeed now.’
Juliet Chowdry of the British Association of Christian Asians said: ‘In the face of escalating violence and discrimination against Christians in India, the re-election of Modi’s BJP Party poses an ominous threat to religious minorities. The surge in anti-Christian attacks, fuelled by divisive rhetoric and inflammatory language, reflects a dangerous trend emboldened by the rise of Hindu nationalism. It’s now clear that constitutional protections and religious diversity are under severe strain. Moreover, the presence of blasphemy laws in several states and the proliferation of anti-conversion laws add to the precarious situation already faced by Christians under the current BJP regime’.
And the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)’s latest annual report has urged President Biden to place India on a list of countries of particular concern. The Indian government rejected the report, calling it ‘propaganda’.
