Moving north, ICC also spoke with Pastor Rai Sahab from Muradapur village in Uttar Pradesh, one of the states most heavily hit by persecution in recent years.
On May 27, 50 Christian gathered for worship at Pastor Sahab’s church when Hindu radicals attacked. After beating Pastor Sahab and another church member, the attackers dragged the two Christians to the police station and falsely accused them of forced conversion.
“I was so scared of losing my eyesight,” Pastor Sahab told ICC. “I was punched so hard before being dragged to the police station that blood clotted inside my right eye.”
Unfortunately, church closures and physical assaults have not been the only persecution that Indian Christians have reported. Pastor Hate Singh Gundiya from Madhya Pradesh, also reported extensive surveillance of Christian activities and threats by local Hindu radical groups. This has led to several church closures and individual Christians giving up their faith.
“Two Christian families from Jhambgudi stopped coming to church, rather they were forced and threatened into giving up their Christian faith,” Pastor Gundiya said. “This has been happening across the entire region of Jhabua. A number of churches have been closed down for the fear of being attacked by Hindu radical groups.”
“There is close surveillance on churches and their activities,” Pastor Gundiya explained. “Even on the people who attend the churches. There have been several instances when I have fled from the marketplace to escape possible physical attack by Hindu radicals when I heard people pointing at me saying, ‘He is Christian, beat him.’”
Pastor Gundiya concluded, “The level of hostility is unbearable for Christians in many regions. If the politics of hate and divide continue into the future, it could mean more violence against Christians and other religious minorities.”
Pastor Vinod summed up the situation, saying, “We are deeply worried about our safety as Christians. Four years of pro-Hindu, BJP rule has brought us to this situation. There is reason to worry about our future. We have only one way to advocate against this and that is to cry out to God in prayer.”
In February 2018, ICC surveyed 1,000 Christians regarding persecution and BJP rule. Of the 1,000 Christians surveyed, 84.45% agreed with the statement “Minorities are less protected under the current administration of Prime Minister Modi and his BJP.” Incidentally, Open Doors’ 2018 World Watch List ranks India as the 11th worst among nations where Christians are persecuted. Four years ago, prior to the BJP administration, India ranked 31st on the list.
Despite the headlines attacking the two archbishops’ pastoral letters, thousands of Christians, like Pastor Vinod, Pastor Sahab, and Pastor Gundiya, are experiencing a significant increase in persecution. Many feel that this increase has been a direct effect of BJP rule in India and the Hindu nationalist platform they have used for political gain.
In difficult times, Christians are called to pray. Here, the archbishops are calling on their followers to do the same. As the upcoming national elections approach, radical Hindu nationalist rhetoric will likely increase as will attacks on Christians and their places of worship. Let’s join them in prayer as this difficult season approaches.
For interviews with William Stark, Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org