All India Christian Council (AICC) has welcomed the speech of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his commitment to religious freedom in the country and Home Minister Rajnath Singh's assurance that the minorities will be protected.
In a meeting of All India Christian Council leaders in Hyderabad, Most Rev Dr. Joseph D'souza, the President of the All India Christian Council welcomed the recent strong and clear statement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to religious freedom and the United Nations article on religious freedom.
Bishop D'Souza said, "He(Prime Minister) has rightly said that the Indian tradition for centuries has been about religious tolerance. It is only in recent decades that violent religious extremism has come into play and there is a serious attempt to divide the Indian nation along religious lines," the Bishop said.
Further the All India Christian Council supports the Prime Minister's commitment to development which is the need of the hour. "No one can ignore the great needs of hundreds of millions of people for food, jobs, quality education and equal opportunity," stated the press statement from the AICC.
Rev Dr. G. Samuel the executive secretary of the Baptist Churches and the All India Christian Council national vice-President stated that Indian Christians are against any forced or fraudulent conversions and that when there is violation of the same, the present laws under IPC are sufficient to take action against the guilty.
"Talks and announcements of some anti-conversion laws are attempt to divide and polarize Indians and demonize Indian Christians. All that Christians ask is for the peaceful belief and practice and propagation of their faith as demanded by their faith and also as guaranteed by the Constitution," Reverend Samuel said.
Bishop Dr D'souza stated that Christians must keep peace and harmony with all faiths and all protests should be peaceful and under the law when their communities are targeted by extremist groups. "It appears that some extremist groups are intent on polarizing the religious communities and also working hard on scuttling the Government's development agenda and vision," the Bishop said.
"Many young Christians have voted for the development agenda of the present Government as their future looks bleak without dramatic change in India's economic sector and opportunities for education and employment. Thus the assurance from the Home Minister Rajnath Singh on protection is very welcome," Bishop D'Souza added.
Rev K. B. Edison, the member of the Pentecostal Synod of Tamil Nadu stated that the Christian Council now expects actions from the government against the culprits who are attacking religious places and wants to know who is behind the attacks in New Delhi and other places. "These are not accidental attacks but suggest an agenda," he said.
Rev. Edison further stated that it should be clear that Indian Christians will not be hostage to any political party and should work with and support parties that in action stand for religious freedom, development of the lives of the poor and downtrodden, and communal peace.
"Once political parties come to power they completely ignore these commitments that are important for Christians," Rev. Edison added.
During the celebration of the elevation of two Indians to Sainthood, namely Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Mother Euphrasia held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on February 17, Prime Minister had assured Christians that his government will not allow any religious group to incite hatred and will strongly act against any religious violence."
The Prime Minister also appealed to all religious groups to "act with restraint, mutual respect".
"My government will ensure that there is complete freedom of faith," the Prime Minister said.
