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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Mamata visits Bhabanipur EVM strong room, warns against counting irregularities
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee early Friday warned against any attempt to tamper with the counting process, hours after she visited an EVM strong room in Bhabanipur, alleging possible malpractice.
Banerjee, who emerged around 12:07 am after spending nearly four hours at the counting centre for her Bhabanipur constituency housed in Sakhawat Memorial School in south Kolkata, said only one person would be allowed inside the designated counting area.
"Either the candidate or one agent can stay upstairs. I have also suggested installation of a CCTV camera for the media," she told reporters.
Stressing the need for transparency, she said, "It is essential to maintain transparency. People’s votes must be protected. I rushed here after receiving complaints. The central forces initially did not allow me to enter."
Sounding a stern note ahead of the May 4 counting, she added, "If there is any plan to tamper with the counting process, it will not be tolerated."
On Thursday evening, Banerjee had reached the Bhabanipur Assembly segment counting centre, which houses the strong room for EVMs used in the April 29 polling, citing suspicion of tampering with the machines.
She entered the premises along with her election agent and remained inside for hours, even as Kolkata Mayor and TMC candidate from the Kolkata Port segment Firhad Hakim reached the spot but could not meet her.
"I reached here upon learning that the chief minister has arrived. But I couldn’t meet her since she was already inside the premises, exercising her right as a candidate to visit strong rooms. I wasn’t allowed there. I will not be able to confirm what exactly is transpiring inside," Hakim said.
The development coincided with protests by TMC candidates Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja outside the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in north Kolkata, where they staged a sit-in alleging irregularities and possible tampering of EVMs stored in strong rooms, leading to face-offs between TMC and BJP supporters.
Earlier in a video message, Banerjee had urged party leaders, workers and polling agents to maintain a 24-hour vigil on EVM strong rooms, alleging that the BJP could attempt to tamper with the machines before counting begins.
Her remarks come amid heightened political tension in the state following a fiercely contested Assembly election, with parties closely monitoring arrangements and raising concerns over transparency.
