Indian Jesuits urge govt to curb anti-minorities campaign

Motivated by hatred and violence, the anti-minorities campaign has a “negative impact" on the social harmony in many towns and villages in the country.

Leaders from various rights groups and communities releasing a Report on Attacks on Minorities at a Jantar Mantar rally in New Delhi.

India:  Indian Jesuits of the Jesa (Jesuits in Social Action) network has appealed to the central government and the governments of several Indian states to adopt urgent measures to put an end to the orchestrated campaign against religious minorities.

Motivated by hatred and violence, the anti-minorities campaign has a “negative impact on the social harmony in many towns and villages in the country," said Jesa.

The statement recalled that the media reported more than 600 cases of violence against minorities between May and September, the period the new government led by BJP has been in power.

"The overt support from political leaders to radical groups and extremist Hindus has triggered violence in many places," said Jesa, and also pointed out that the perpetrators go unpunished.

"Impunity further encourages the extremists who are acting outside the law," said the Indian Jesuits.

The civil society has long called to the highest political authorities to stop "those who create disharmony and polarize society". More than 30 organizations that defend human rights have reiterated their request to protect the rights of minorities, especially the right to live with dignity as citizens of India, with equal dignity and equality.

The situation has become so critical that even a well-known jurist – Fali Nariman – had openly expressed his concern a few weeks ago.

"The first 100 days of the new government have seen a crescendo of hate speeches against Muslims and Christians. Their identity is mocked, their citizenship questioned, their faith ridiculed. Coercion, divisions and suspicions multiply. Attacks against religious minorities have assumed alarming proportions in various parts of the country," said the Jesuits.

Jesu stated that the hatred, violence campaign and threats “have left not only religious minorities speechless, but also civil society, lawyers and academics, while the government remains silent.”

“The Christian community has been the target of mob violence in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh." According to the Jesuits there is a change in the strategy of the extremist organisations: "A few deaths, but daily low-intensity violence that is becoming routine," has taken the place of earlier concerted pogroms.

The Jesuits asked for immediate action against those who created tension in society and invited the Home Minister to "issue a directive so that the police are not conditioned by extremist groups".

Source: Agenzia Fides