NEW DELHI, February 18 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally broke his silence over the alleged increasing mistreatment of minority Christians and gave the assurance that his government would give equal respect to all communities.
He affirmed that he would not tolerate violence against any religion and stressed that individuals had the right to adopt any faith of their choice. Modi’s statement came in the wake of increasing calls from civil movements after Hindutva or Hindu extremist groups started to intensify their agenda.
In recent months, Indian media had continuously highlighted the burning of churches and Christian-run schools in Delhi. The Hindu newspaper reported quoting Modi as saying: “We cannot accept violence against any religion on any pretext, and I strongly condemn such violence.
“My government will act strongly in this regard,” Modi said in a rare speech in English when attending a function organised by the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in the capital.
Meanwhile, The Times of India reported that Modi warned that his government would not allow any religious group of majority or minority communities to incite hatred against each other.
The daily reported that Modi’s comment put to rest any speculation about any changes in conversion law or in India’s constitutional commitment towards secularism. Echoing a similar sentiment,
the Hindustan Times said Modi’s comment should also be seen as a condemnation of a recent spate of forced religious conversions by hardline Hindu groups across the country, an issue he refused to comment on despite pressure from the opposition in parliament.
The daily pointed out that Modi, who read from a prepared text in English, was sending a strong message to both Indians at home and to the global audience. Last week, in Delhi, hundreds of Christians protested against attacks on churches, claiming that they saw a ‘deliberate’ pattern of targeting their community.
In an immediate response to Modi’s speech, his critics questioned whether his party and leaders down the line would abide by what the prime minister had said.
– BERNAMA
