Christian delegation briefs the President of India on the rise in atrocities against Christians
New Delhi, April 20: A delegation of Christian leaders from Delhi called on the Indian President, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, in New Delhi and briefed her on the rise in atrocities against the community.
-The President expresses concern on reports of increased persecution of Christians in India.
The Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu received a delegation of Christian leaders from Delhi at the Rashtrapati Bhawan earlier today. The delegation comprised of Archbishop Anil JT Couto, Bishop Subodh Mondal, Bishop Paul Swarup, Dr. Michael Williams and Mrs. Tehmina Arora. The delegation presented a copy of the Holy Bible, a memento of Christ the Good Shepherd blessed by Pope Francis and a Memorandum elaborating various concerns of the community.
The President was briefed about the steep increase in the incidents of violence against Christians, especially in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. A copy of the Memorandum is attached. On 19th of February, 2023, about 22,000 concerned Christians of Delhi gathered together in a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar. The various Christian leaders had drafted and signed the Memorandum on that day and had sought time to meet with the President to present the same.
After giving a patient hearing to the delegation, the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu recalled her days in Jharkhand and Odisha and fondly recalled the service of the church, the nuns and other members of the Christian community in the area. She applauded their unflinching service in the area of healthcare and education and nation-building. She also mentioned her time volunteering with the nuns in the region.
She recalled the tragic loss of Graham Staines, an Australian missionary who was brutally murdered along with his two young sons in 1999, when she was in the neighbouring village. She expressed regret for her inability at the time to prevent their tragic loss. She stated she has read reports about the targeting of Christians, however, she believes that these violent attacks have been perpetrated by a handful of people in India. She stressed that the secular fabric of the nation comprising of its unity in diversity was still vibrant. She assured the delegation that she would follow up and initiate action that is within her powers to ensure that police and law enforcement complacency, unwarranted arrests, and harassment of Christian families, and the attacks on institutions, as highlighted in the Memorandum, are addressed.
For further details, you may contact: (Dr.) A C Michael | acmichael60@gmail.com
Watch Dr. Michael Williams’ Interview with The Wire here
