For more information, contact:
Dr. Sam Paul, aicc National Secretary of Public Affairs

For immediate release

Massive rally in Andhra Pradesh tomorrow to protest impunity for Hindutva extremists

HYDERABAD – September 19, 2008 – Since August 23, 2008, over one hundred churches were burned and thousands of Christians attacked in six states across India. Last night, India’s central government implemented Article 355 of the Indian Constitution to halt the spread of violence, specifically in Orissa and Karnataka states. Tomorrow, September 20, 2008, the All India Christian Council (aicc) will sponsor a rally in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, to urge civil society and Indian citizens of goodwill to insist the state governments arrest people behind the anti-Christian violence.

The Protest Rally will begin at 11 a.m. at Gymkhana Grounds. Over 25,000 attendees are expected. Several political parties have confirmed their participation and Sikhs, Buddhists, progressive Hindus, and Muslims – including members of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, one of India’s largest Muslim organisations – will join the demonstration.

Dr. Sam Paul, aicc National Secretary of Public Affairs, said, “People are coming from all 24 districts of Andhra Pradesh to show their belief in democratic ideals and specifically ask the Orissa government to pursue and convict instigators of communal violence. It’s clear that average Indians are ready to engage in peaceful, civil disobedience if that’s the only way to provoke a government response. We believe inter-faith harmony and enforcement of the rule of law is best for the progress of India. We are thankful our appeals to the Orissa state governor and Central government resulted in implementation of Article 355, but the faith of suffering people will only be restored if justice prevails.”

Aicc will ask the Central government to extend Article 355 to Madhya Pradesh due to the lack of response by state government officials. In the last week, Christians or Christian properties were sporadically attacked in Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand. In Karnataka, at least 17 churches were vandalised in 4 districts. The majority of attacks occurred on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008 in coastal areas. In Orissa, the aicc estimates 50,000 Christians are displaced with 14,000 in government relief camps, 35 people killed including two pastors, and over 4,000 Christian homes destroyed by arson.  The violence, which at one point spread across 12 of 30 districts in the state, now seems to be contained to Kandhamal District. Attacks began in rural Orissa on Aug. 23, 2008, after the murder of a controversial Hindu swami by unknown assailants and continue despite the emergency deployment of thousands of Central law enforcement troops. In most places, Hindu nationalist organisations such as the Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, claimed responsibility for attacks.

On August 28, 2008, a seven-member ecumenical Christian delegation, led by aicc Orissa state chapter president Rev. P.R. Parichha, met with the Orissa state governor, Mr. Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare, in Bhubaneswar and asked him to invoke Article 355. On September 1, 2008, aicc participated in a multi-faith delegation which met Mrs. Pratibha Patil, President of India, in New Delhi and asked the Central government to implement Article 355 in Orissa. The delegation included Bollywood film producer Mahesh Bhatt, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind President Maulana Mahmood Madani, Maharashtra government state minorities commission vice chairman Dr. Abraham Mathai, Dr. John Dayal, aicc regional secretary Rev. Madhu Chandra, and several top Roman Catholic leaders from Orissa, Mumbai, and Delhi. Many other human rights activists in India also called for the same.

“Irresponsible statements by certain fundamentalist Hindutva leaders have saddened the vast majority of Hindus as well as minority communities. These extremists publicly said unprovoked attacks against Christians involved in ‘converting’ Hindus are regrettable, but understandable. Regardless of religious differences, mature leaders should unconditionally condemn the murder of any Indian citizen – including Christians,” said Dr. John Dayal, aicc Secretary General. “Terrorism is the random violence against innocent people with the goal of forcing change in society. This includes recent bombings in Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Bangalore, allegedly by extremist Muslims. But it also includes attacks on Dalit Christian homes and worship places in Orissa and the string of premeditated attacks on churches in Karnataka beginning last Sunday.”

“In Orissa, after 28 days of violence, some extremist Hindus are now killing police apparently because the authorities arrested those who murdered Christians. We are also worried about continued reports, verified by Indian media, that Christians are being forced to convert to Hinduism. And our hearts grieve for the thousands who are still hiding in the forests without adequate food and shelter. We still are requesting military intervention,” said Rev. P.R. Parichha, aicc Orissa state president.

Dr. Joseph D’souza, aicc president, said, “In the aftermath of severe, widespread attacks on Christian places of worship in Karnataka, we were deeply saddened by the state authorities’ response. Certain politicians called for investigations into foreign funding of Christian ministries and said there is “no place for forced conversions in a democracy”. If the situation weren’t so serious, these statements would be laughable. Indian Christians are united against forced or induced conversions – they are unbiblical and don’t produce true believers. And calling for an investigation targeted only at ministries still smoldering from arson by roving gangs is the ultimate insult. It insults the rule of law and non-sectarian justice which the state is supposed to uphold.”

Article 355 of India’s Constitution is titled “Duty of the Union to protect States against external aggression and internal disturbance” and states, “It shall be the duty of the Union to protect every State against external aggression and internal disturbance and to ensure that the government of every State is carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.” In many cases, implementation of article 355 serves as a warning to a state government and Article 356 is invoked shortly thereafter. Article 356 allows the President of India to take control of the functions of a state government.

From Dec. 24, 2007-Jan. 2, 2008, attacks in Kandhamal District killed at least four Christians and destroyed about 105 churches and 730 Christian homes. Most of the victims were Dalits, formerly known as untouchables. Previously, the largest attack on Christians was in The Dangs District, Gujarat when approximately 30 churches were burned over Christmas 1998.

The All India Christian Council (www.aiccindia.org), birthed in 1998, exists to protect and serve the Christian community, minorities, and the oppressed castes. The aicc is a coalition of thousands of Indian denominations, organizations, and lay leaders.

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