Religious freedom in India declining says Christian author

While the whole world considers India as the most populous and vibrant democracy, All India Christian Council secretary general, John Dayal says, "Freedom of religion is steadily on the decline in the country."

The journalist turned Christian activist, speaking to Ecumenical News International (ENI), in an interview about his soon to be released book on religious freedom in India, said, "Many of the rights have been systematically diluted over the years by governments, courts and fundamentalist forces."

"A Matter of Equity: Freedom of Faith in Secular India" is a critique of religious freedom in the country. Dayal says that this freedom, or lack of it, ranges from the steady dilution of constitutional guarantees to harsh treatment meted out to Christians and minorities in every corner of the country.

The soon to be released book which contains a collection of articles on the plights of Christians in India was written when he was a journalist. Later the Christian became a maven on issues concerning India's microscopic Christian community.

"Even before the BJP came up, religious freedom had been facing curbs both by the government and the judiciary," says Dayal, who lists several documents in his book to support his claim.

Dayal further asserted that the first anti–conversion bill, restricting people to convert to Christianity was introduced by secular Congress party in 1960s.

He divulged that Christians enjoyed "better religious freedom three decades ago than now" and that several lower courts in the country have been hostile to Christian grievances.

Expressing sadness over the scrutinizing and control of Christian missionaries in entering the country, ENI quoted Dayal saying, "Christian missionaries who have done exemplary service to the nation have been unceremoniously packed off by the government denying them visa extensions on one pretext or other."

Dismayed over the rising atrocities in the country against Christians, Dayal pointed that, even the State machinery has been used to harass Christians and their institutions.

"In this context, one will wonder what religious freedom spelt out under fundamental freedom in our constitution means."

The recent incidents of deliberate violence against Christians, including the murders of priests, rapes of nuns, and brutal assaults on missionaries saddened Dayal, who urged Church leaders to demand from the government what has been taken away over the decades.

Dayal pointed that, church leaders have failed to provide strong leadership for the 26 million Christians in India.

The new book titled "A Matter of Equity: Freedom of Faith in Secular India," by John Dayal, is priced at 800 Indian rupees and will be published by New Delhi–based Anamika Publishers and Distributors Pvt Ltd.