Andhra Pradesh, Christians ask for protection from persecution

Asianews:

They have asked the local government for a law protection ethnic minorities. 4 murders and countless attacks have targeted the Christian community there. In Tirupati, seat of important Hindu Temples, a violent Hindu protest has broken out. They are asking that all Christian activities be outlawed. A newly converted student commits suicide.
New Delhi (AsiaNews) –The Christian community of Hyderabad, Capital of Andhra Pradesh (Ap), have asked the local government for a law protection ethnic minorities. Meanwhile the Hindu activists carry out aggressive attacks on Christians and the parties organize public protests calling for all Christian activities to be banned in the Hindu Holy city of Tirupati.

Christians recall the frequent attacks. Dr J J Kumar Luke, member of the Centenary Methodist Telugu Church, tells of A pastor in Asifnagar was beaten up when he visited a church member’s residence and was beaten up by some self-proclaimed Hindu activists. “When he went to lodge a police complaint, a case was registered against him on charges of conversion” (In Ap it is illegal to convert a Hindu to another faith).

Speaking to AsiaNews, Fr. Anthony Thumma Diocesan Director of Ecumenism, Secundrabad (AP) said that he is not informed of this initiative but that “We (AP Christian Federation) had been lobbying for the same from 2004 general election. The NCMP included something similar which has now been introduced in the Parliament under the title "Prevention of Communal Riots Bill. Given the situation in A.P. where four pastors had been killed and many pastors including foreigners had been attacked, we do need an act similar to "the SC / ST Prevention of Atrocities Act”.

While the Christians appeal for greater protection, on March 6th Sangh Parivar activists launched the “Save Tirupati” with protest meetings at Mysore (Karnataka) against the Christian missionaries at the temple of Tirumala Tirupati, in Tirupati city (Andhra Pradesh)...read more