India Christians Reject Claims of New Report

Christian leaders have rejected a claim by India's National Minorities Commission (NCM) that the percentage of Christians in northeastern India has risen to

By Kenneth Chan, Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Christian leaders have rejected a claim by India's National Minorities Commission (NCM) that the percentage of Christians in northeastern India has risen to "abnormally high" levels.

Last week, the All India Christian Council held a conference to discuss rising persecution in northeastern India. Despite the long history of Christian activity in the region, Hindu activists have in recent year accused the church in the seven northeastern states of numerous "forced conversions," according to Compass News.

Following the release of NCM's study in February, Christian leaders challenged the NCM to drop its sensational claims and concentrate on protecting the rights of Christians, Compass reported.

Christian leaders said the NCM was simply looking for a way to control Christian activity in the region.

In recent weeks, reports of escalating violence against Christians in a number of states throughout India have made their way outside the predominantly Hindu nation and into religious media agencies.

While some believe the recent attacks on Christians may be politically motivated, Hindu fundamentalist groups, however, have claimed that the recent string of violence is “a spontaneous reaction by local people against missioners adamant on conversion.”

According to reports, the recent wave of violence began Jan. 30, when Hindu activists forced their way into a large Christian gathering after hundreds of worshippers had come from towns and villages in India’s Uttar Pradesh state to take part in a prayer rally. The activists reportedly charged that rallies such as the prayer rally were aimed at conversions and that Christians lure the people with gifts of land, money, food and clothes.