Washington,
DC: The Federation of Indian American Christian
Organizations (FIACONA) held a Prayer Vigil across the US Capitol where Prime
Minister Narendra Modi was addressing
the Joint Session of the US Congress.
The Vigil was organized to express concerns about the increased violence and
harassment against Christians perpetrated by groups and people loyal to Mr.
Modi and his party.
The event was attended by representatives of different
faiths and organizations in spite of efforts to restrict protests by other
groups during Mr. Modi’s speech.
Mr. John Christy, an active member of FIACONA gave the
invocation. He also said, "It is the right time to let the world know that
the Christian community in India
is undergoing a very defining moment in its 2000 year old history". He
said this is not the time to keep quiet.
Mr. Prabhudoss, president of FIACONA said that the organization
promotes cooperation between US and India. He said Prime Ministers come
and go and so are the governments, in the long history of the Union of India.
But the people of India and
the US
must come together despite these aberrations that take place in their
respective leaderships from time to time.
FIACONA has welcomed the Prime Minister to the US when Mr. Modi was elected in
2014. But FIACONA made it very clear that it does not support the policies and
attitudes of Mr. Modi's government. Mr. Modi has failed in his constitutional
obligation to protect the lives and property of all citizens, including the
Christians. Just repeating that they have an article in their holy book called
the Constitution of India that protects the rights of different religious
communities does not do any good unless they try to use that holy book
sometimes.
Even as Mr. Modi was traveling to the United States
to deliver his prepared speech with talking points, a church was vandelized in
the state of Karnataka. We wonder why?
Mr. Mani, a representative from Maryland Indian Christian
community stressed the point that Christians in North
India suffer from aggression from radical Hindutva members,
especially in remote villages. He further said Christians are stigmatized more
and more lately because of the prevailing political climate.
FIACONA considers Mr. Modi to be actively complicit in the
ongoing violence because Mr. Modi so far has kept silent, giving rise to the
perception that perhaps Mr Modi is not condemning the violence and harassment
against Christians in India
because he is tacitly supporting such violent campaign and harassment against
Christians. If this is not to be true, then at least a "speaking Prime
Minister" should speak about this serious problems too!
Mr. Prabhudoss pointed put that the fact that the White House is not hosting
Mr. Modi for a State Banquet like the one which President Obama gave to Mr.
Manmohan Singh speaks volumes by itself. Mr. Prabhudoss said, why else would
the White House not host Mr. Modi for a State Dinner despite such demands from
Mr. Modi's handlers?
Ms. Ann Buwalda, director of Jubilee Campaign USA, shared how the situation for Christians and
other minorities has gone from bad to worse in India since Modi’s coming to power.
She explained that Mr. Modi cannot travel around telling world leaders that the
government has religious freedom, referencing Article 25 in the Constitution,
while his supporters are let loose to create mayhem in India against
Christians. She gave the example of the forced conversion campaigns lead by BJP
members, in an effort to re-convert minority members back to Hinduism, where
the victims face threats and violence if they try and resist. Minority
organizations also face discrimination through administrative restrictions on
receiving foreign aid, being accused of using funds for "proselytizing
Hindus," she said.
Dr. Sam George, an author and a director of an organization
that helps second generation Indians in America said, “Mr. Modi needs to realize
that violence, harassments and attacks on religious minorities, perpetrated by
Mr. Modi’s supporters only creates an image of India being extremist. This
image is not good for long term economic and geopolitical interests of Indiaâ€.
Rev. Neal Christie of the General Board of Church and
Society who gave the benediction said, we are all made from the same blood into
many nations and people and that we are all brothers and sisters and we must
respect each other. He prayed for the nation of India and peace in the region.