A high-level delegation of Minority Community leaders called on Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on 14 May 2007 and urged him to enact legislation to curb Sangh Parivar terrorism against Christians and other religious groups.

The delegation was facilitated by former Minister Naseem Khan MLA, and consisted of Bishop Angelo Gracias of the Mumbai Catholic Archdiocese, Lawrence D'Souza, Maharashtra president of All India Catholic Union, Dr Abraham Mathai, President of the Indian Christian Voice and General secretary of All India Christian Council, Dr John Dayal, member of the National Integration Council, secretary general of All India Christian Council and National President of the Catholic Union, and Maulana Attar Ali, Member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board.

The delegation impressed on the Chief Minister for special laws to curb threats and violence against the Christian community as general laws had failed to assure them the security of life and freedom of faith. The delegation said terrorism against the Christian community was no less threatening to the security and integrity of the nation than any other religious fundamentalist violence.

The delegation also handed over to the Chief Minister samples of hate mail and threatening letters that were being sent by the Parivar to members of the community. The following are excerpts of the Memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister by the delegation:

For centuries, the Christian community has looked on Mumbai and in fact on Maharashtra as a haven for the Faithful, where they could live a fruitful life, profess, practice and witness Christ without fear or threat to their lives. In turn, they have enriched the life of the State beyond calculation.

In recent weeks, the Maharashtrian guarantee of safety for religious minorities, which has been better in many ways than the national average, has been brutally and rudely shattered. A horrified nation, in fact the world at large, has seen live on television images of a blood-thirsty mob all but lynching two Karnataka pastors in Kolhapur. The blows that were rained on the hapless young men by goons openly professing the Hindutva cause were as real as the allegations against the pastors were false. Can two men forcibly or fraudulently coerce entire families in a public place?

The police looked on, and we are not sure if individual policemen were themselves not party to the well planned conspiracy. We cannot but suspect the motive of the police in registering mild, non cognizable offences against the few people they have finally taken into custody and immediately released on bail. In an act reeking of ultimate irony, they have arrested the two pastors under non-bailable offences at the instigation of the attackers!

This is not all. Vishwa Hindu Parishad, which has boldly hired its own cameramen to record its aggression and violence against the minorities, has thrown a challenge to the rule of law, and mocked at the state itself in further threatening the Christian community living in the State.

It is our faith in Christ that sustains us; otherwise we would have been in panic at such open threat. For similar threats, Maharashtra enacted the MCOCA against Terrorist and Fundamentalist violence. We see no difference between that, and the terror unleashed by the Sangh Parivar. Surely it is fair, and just, that the State of Maharashtra enact a law to curb Sangh fundamentalist violence. Sectarian terror is a threat to national unity and integrity.

We also call upon the State to give monetary compensation to the two injured Pastors as it gives to victims of other acts of communal violence.

Dear Chief Minister, acts of violence against Christians are being repeated in many states - those ruled by the BJP and also some ruled by the Congress and its allies. We call upon you to use your good offices with the Union Government and the Congress Party leadership, to impress on them the urgency to bring such violence, and threat of violence, to an immediate halt through definitive action against the culprits.