1/14/2020 India (International Christian Concern) – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), India’s right-wing Hindu nationalist party, is protesting a new Jesus statue in Karnataka state. Construction stopped soon after it began because of Hindu groups wanting to stop conversions to Christianity. Hindu groups also protested construction because the statue would stand on a Hindu deity’s resting place, although no holy temple commemorated the ground and the village is predominantly Christian.

The protests were led by RSS, the parent organization for the BJP. A top RSS leader told media, “We want to stop the statue since it goes against the spirit of communal harmony and encourages religious conversions which is rampantly carried out by Christian missionaries”.

Christians have endured attacks on churches by Hindu groups because of accusations of forcefully converting Hindus to Christianity. Although the India states it supports religious freedom, the US Commission for International Religious Freedom said that religious freedom was declining because of constant violent harassment and intimidation.

For interviews, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: [email protected].