By TCN News
Bastar: Christian leaders have criticized the decisions by a number of village panchayats in Chattisgarh than effectively bans the entry of Christian workers in these villages.
Christian organizations like Evangelical Fellowship of India and religious leaders like Archbishop Anil J.T. Couto of Delhi have asked the state and the Union government in this matter.
The move allegedly orchestrated by Hindu fanatic groups has “serious impacts on the secular ethos of India and damages its international reputation,” the archbishop said in a statement.
“The move violates constitutional rights of freedom of faith, and the freedom of movement, expression and association.”
Rev. Dr. Richard Howell, General Secretary of Evangelical Fellowship of India asked the government must reverse the decisions of these Panchayats immediately to restore the confidence of the Christian community in Chhattisgarh, which is under considerable stress in recent days. There seems to be well thought out pattern and sinister design behind these actions.
Suresh Yadav, Bastar district president of the VHP, has said over 50 Gram Panchayats in Bastar have passed orders under Section 129 (G) of the Chhattisgarh Panchayat Raj Act banning all “non-Hindu religious propaganda, prayers and speeches in the villages.” Some of these include the Sirisguda Gram Sabha, Belar in Lohandiguda and others. The District Collector has admitted that such orders have been passed by three Gram Panchayats. In addition to this, there seems to be a social boycott of Christian villagers, some of whom have also been denied basic amenities including rations.
“The delayed action of the district authorities, and the fact that the State government has not acted so far, encourage hostile political elements and their supporters into taking the law into their own hands. The Christian community finds itself extremely vulnerable in these circumstances. There are also accusations that vested commercial interests are encouraging such divisive action by the village Panchayats,” said Dr. Howell.
Archbishop Anil J.T. Couto warned about the potential of this anti-Christian hate turning into large-scale violence as it happened in Kandhamal in 2008 in which 38 people were killed and tens of thousands displaced.
In the past, large-scale violence against the Christians followed such hate campaigns, he noted.