ICC Note: The church in India is urging Prime Minister Modi to increase his efforts to end the violence of Hindu activists against the Dalits, both Christian and Muslim. These Hindu activists, or ‘cow vigilantes’ have been violently attacking anyone that they think is killing or badly treating cows, since cows are a sacred animal according to their religion. Although he has condemned the actions of these ‘cow vigilantes’, Prime Minister Modi has done little to put an end to their violent actions. As a result, the Dalits continue to suffer persecution from these activists.

08/10/2016, India (UCA News) – While Prime Minister Narandra Modi has spoken out against “cow vigilantism” violence in India, church officials say his response is politically motivated and is “too little, too late.”

In the past few months the media have reported several brutal attacks by Hindu activists against Dalits, Christians and Muslims. The violence is a response to alleged ill treatment and slaughtering of cows, a revered animal in orthodox Hinduism.  

Despite the media showing armed men roaming the streets and brazenly attacking people, the government initially refused to condemn the attacks.

“We are happy that the prime minister has finally spoken out and that he has spoken very strongly,” said Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, secretary-general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India.

“But Dalit and minority groups would be happier if action could be seen at the ground level,” he said.

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