Civil society group submits memorandum to Vatican on ‘targeted violence’ against Christians in India
New Delhi: The United Christian Forum, a civil society group, has reportedly submitted a memorandum to the Vatican highlighting what it calls a rise in “targeted violence and hostility” against Christians in India.
The memorandum was handed over to Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s Foreign Minister, during his visit to India this week to meet Indian officials and church functionaries, as reported by The Hindu. It urged Gallagher to talk about attacks on Christians while meeting Indian officials.
Gallagher met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday, who described their discussion as a “good conversation about the importance of faith and the need for dialogue and diplomacy to address conflicts.”
https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1945742340078883153
The visit comes months after a report by the United Christian Forum, which recorded a steep rise in attacks on Christians—from 127 cases in 2014 to 834 in 2024. In its memorandum submitted to Gallagher, the civil society group referred to the report on the rise in “incidents of violence and hostility towards Christians”, noting that the “primary reason for these attacks has been false allegations of fraudulent conversions”, The Hindu added.
The civil society group further mentioned that Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh were the top two states where such allegations had led to “either attacks on people at prayer or their illegal arrest by the police.”
The United Christian Forum earlier stated that the reported cases in Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh only scratch the surface, claiming that actual incidents at the grassroots level could be three to ten times higher. In 2024 alone, Uttar Pradesh recorded 209 attacks against Christians, while Chhattisgarh reported 165.
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West Bengal exit polls: People’s Pulse projects TMC lead, others predict BJP surge
Kolkata: Exit polls for the West Bengal Assembly Election 2026 have shown different projections, with some surveys indicating a lead for the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), while others suggest an advantage for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
According to People’s Pulse, the TMC+ alliance is projected to win between 177 and 187 seats in the 294-member Assembly.
The BJP is estimated to secure between 95 and 110 seats, while the Left Front+ is predicted to win up to one seat. The Congress (INC) is likely to get between one and three seats, and others are projected to win between one and two seats.
Matrize projections indicate a different trend, with the BJP projected to win between 146 and 161 seats, crossing the majority mark of 148, with a vote share of 42.5 per cent. The TMC is estimated to win between 125 and 140 seats with a vote share of 40.8 per cent.
P-MARQ has also projected a BJP lead, estimating the party to win between 150 and 175 seats, while the TMC+ alliance is expected to secure between 118 and 138 seats. The same survey projects Congress to win between 2 and 6 seats.
Poll Diary estimates suggest the BJP may win between 142 and 171 seats, while the TMC could secure between 99 and 127 seats. Other parties are projected to win between 5 and 9 seats.
Chanakya Strategies has projected the BJP to win between 150 and 160 seats, while the TMC is estimated to get between 130 and 140 seats. Others are expected to secure between 6 and 10 seats, while Congress and Left are projected at zero.
ABP projections estimate the BJP to win between 146 and 161 seats, while the TMC is expected to secure between 125 and 140 seats. Others are projected to win between 6 and 10 seats.
Polls in the state were held in two phases on April 23 and 29, and the counting of votes is scheduled to take place on May 4.
