Indian Christians say Modi govt not indifferent to minority attacks

As India’s Hindu party led government completes its first year, prominent Christian leaders say they see an attitude change among political leadership that shows genuine concern over attacks on the minority community in the past several months.

“The indifference and total silence” regarding the attacks on churches and the Christian community “have now given way to a genuine concern,” said Archbishop Kuriakose Bharanikulangara of Faridabad, who along with 13 other top Christian leaders met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday.

Since May 26 last year, when Prime Minister Narendrea Modi came to power after his pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) won a landslide in national elections, Christian leaders have complained of attacks on churches and individuals along with forced reconversion perpetrated by hardline Hindu groups.

For months, the Modi government was silent, but in February he told church leaders he would address the problem. In recent weeks, party officials have met with Christian leaders and vowed to take concrete action.