The Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, made this statement in a meeting with Dr Samuel Kobia, the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches.

He noted that Christianity in India has a longer history than in many Western countries and made reference to the Indian constitution which states that India “guarantees freedom to practice and propagate one’s faith”. These statements are a strong rebuttal of the views of Hindu nationalist groups who describe Christianity as a foreign religion in order to justify recent attacks on Christians in India.

Manmohan Singh assured Samuel Kobia that his government will take measures to restore the confidence of the Christian community. He has also promised to extend financial assistance from the federal government to rebuild destroyed and damaged churches, and to support Christian families that have lost everything in the violence. Hindu fundamentalists have attacked more than 5,000 Christian houses, 142 churches and dozens of Christian institutions in recent months.

Many places in India are still dangerous for Christians. Reports indicate this is being accentuated by multitudes of houses flying VHP (Hindu World Council) flags whereas Christian homes have none.

Refugee camp conditions for thousands include epidemics of malaria and other water borne diseases. For those forced to go home, there is the danger of living in a house without a VHP flag, in the midst of houses flying them. Many of the 50,000 internally displaced persons, refugees in their own homeland cannot return home for fear of being forced at gunpoint, by VHP youths or the Bajrang Dal, to become Hindus.

Those who have reconverted to Hinduism under this pressure have been forced to burn Bibles and prayer books, and have their heads shaved and to drink cow urine (for Hindu purification).

In Madivala, Karnakata on November 16 police arrested a pastor, charging him with “hurting religious sentiments” after a mob of about 25 Hindu extremists stormed his house church service, struck him and cursed the congregation. He has internally injuries and a seriously damaged eardrum.

Source: http://www.tearsoftheoppressed.org/