The controversial anti-conversion laws in several BJP-ruled states have provided a weapon to Hindutva activists and the state to crack down on minorities, says UCF
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – The majoritarian psych assiduously propounded by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre and in several states, has resulted in increased attacks on the country’s minorities, especially Muslims and Christians.
The BJP’s purported Hindu nationalism and the government’s apathy have taken a heavy toll on the lives and honour of the minorities with a significant surge in violence cases reported in the country.
The latest figures released by the United Christian Forum (UCF), a New Delhi-based civil society organisation focused on Christian issues, claimed that there were 834 incidents of violence against Christians in 2024, which is 100 more than the 734 incidents that occurred in 2023.
In a recent statement, the UCF expressed concern over the growing incidents of violence against Christians. It said the most worrying thing is that more than two Christians are being targeted every day in the country simply for practicing their religion.
These incidents take many forms, including attacks on churches or prayer gatherings, harassment of those who practice their faith, boycotts and restrictions on access to community resources, false accusations and criminal cases, especially cases related to forced conversions, the statement noted.
The controversial and draconian laws against religious conversion in several BJP-ruled states have provided a weapon to Hindutva activists and the state to crack down on minorities. Since 2014, when the BJP government led by Narendra Modi came to power, such incidents have increased rapidly.
Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of incidents (209) against Christians in 2024, followed by Chhattisgarh (165). Human rights activists say that in many of these incidents FIRs were not registered even after complaints were filed with the police.
In addition, victims are afraid to approach the police because they believe that the police will try to twist the matter and support the perpetrators by filing false charges against the victims, the UCF statement said.
UCF convener AC Michael said most FIRs are registered against the victims while the perpetrators are left alone. The police tell the victims that if they file a case, the attackers may become more aggressive and their lives will be in greater danger after that.
Of the 73 incidents registered in December 2024, 25 victims were Scheduled Tribes and 14 were Dalits. Nine of these incidents involved women.
On December 31, a delegation of over 400 senior Christian leaders and 30 church groups appealed to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Modi to address the issue of increasing violence against the community.
Their appeal came after several such cases were registered during Christmas.
Prime Minister Modi attended the Christmas celebrations organised by the Catholic Bishops Conference of India on December 23, 2024. Speaking there, he mentioned violence against Christians but only in other parts of the world, such as the Christmas market attack in Germany and the 2019 Easter bombings in Sri Lanka.
Prominent journalist and human rights activist John Dayal said the speech exposed Modi’s duplicity. “After expressing his pain over the incidents of violence, the prime minister did not mention even one of the two daily incidents of hate violence in the country in 2024. Instead, he cited the German attack as an example. This is duplicity and this is what encourages Hindu extremists,” he said.
