OPEN LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER
FROM THE GLOBAL COUNCIL OF INDIAN CHRISTIANS:

The Global Council of Indian Christians urges Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to use his influence over the Bharatiya Janata Party and its affiliates in order to restrain cadre members from vitiating the atmosphere with what appears to be its communal agenda.

With the identification of 13 persons allegedly belonging to the RSS and the BJP for the attack on Missionaries of Charity near Calicut on September 25, it is now clear that the cause behind the crime is religious hatred.

Several organizations have condemned the communal and dastardly attack. It is unfortunate that Chief Minister Ommen Chandy had struck a discordant note by accusing  the CPM of politicizing the issue for taking a strong stand against forces  which perpetrated the crime. All those who believe in non-violence and freedom of religion need to come together at this time to confront these forces of intolerance.

In the context of the dastardly attack on innocent women social workers, one fails to understand why the new chief minister connects the attack with a talk about poverty conditions in the area. Want of strict action against communal elements will only embolden them to continue their anti-social
activities intimidating religious minorities. While the missionaries are quite willing to pardon the evil doers, from the
point of view of peace in society, such disruptive forces can not be allowed free play. They  have  already done enough to sow seeds of discord in the name of religion and caste. This type of threat to internal freedom is worse than terrorist attacks.

While everyone should try to strive for peace and should not provoke further hatred on this count, it is necessary to isolate those who have been repeatedly seeking to oppress and terrorize those working for the emancipation of the poor and the downtrodden because they belong to a different religion.

The Global Council of Indian Christians has expressed concern over the renewed  activities of communal forces, the latest manifestation of which was the attack on two groups of sisters and brothers belonging to the order of the Missionaries of Charity.

In an open letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the council pointed out the series of brutalities inflicted on hapless individuals-conversion of Tribal Christians in Orissa, murder of Fr Job Chittillapally in Kerala and attacks on worshippers in Mangalore, Karnataka. This, it said, is an indication that forces which assassinated the father of the Nation had become emboldened to strike at will on innocents to create an atmosphere of fear and terror.

In the Calicut incident, the criminals had attacked sisters of the missionaries of Charity known for its humanitarian services to the poor worldwide. The miscreants had misbehaved, torn the sarees of the women and outraged their modesty.

While most have condemned the incident as shameful, Hindutva elements had the temerity to protest against the police attempt to pinpoint the culprits. There is no doubt that the pre-meditated attack was the result of a conspiracy and it is in the interest of the nation to expose the real culprits behind the heinous crime.

The assailants had raised slogans supporting Hindu outfits such as the VHP. The tirade against Christians, intended to arouse communal passions and thereby mobilize Hindu votes to capture power is a strategy that stands exposed. The oft repeated lie of  Christians fraudulently converting tribals and the poor also had come unstuck. Yet the Sangh Parivar has continued its divisive tactics to intimidate and deny to the minorities their religious rights and freedom.

Unless the secular sections raise their voice against the vicious elements and the government acts decisively against those seeking to exploit majority sentiments for their narrow purposes, minorities are bound to feel insecure. Hate speeches and hate- filled Yatras that initially felled a 400-year old
mosque had gone on too long bringing in its wake violent conflicts and disharmony in society.

During its reign, the sangh parivar and its handmaid, the national democratic alliance, have fostered an atmosphere of hatred towards the minorities. Their concept of cultural nationalism and efforts to saffronise the textbooks are part of a conspiracy to inject a communal outlook in young minds rather than develop a broad and universal outlook for the era of globalisation. One of the injured nuns rightly pointed out that the attack by the youths reflected on their upbringing: their intolerance and hatred are too evident. This does not augur well for the country's future.

The global council has drawn attention to repeated attack on churches, disruption of worship services and other forms of harassment indulged in by miscreants obsessed with religious hatred. Books and literature are seized and put to fire. Prayer halls are ransacked. These incidents have been happening in various parts of the country and the culprits invariably are religious fanatics.

The sustained campaign against Christians by various sangh parivar outfits have resulted in society becoming far less tolerant and respectful to every form of Christian expression. Today's culture of intolerance and hate speeches by popular politicians do not augur well for social harmony and development. It will be a sad day for the nation if Nazi-type activists are allowed to thwart democratic freedoms in our country. The Global council want the Government to view these developments with due seriousness and take urgent remedial measures.