By TCO News Admin
In a powerful display of unity, approximately 2,000 Christians from over 200 denominations converged in New Delhi on November 29 for the National Christian Convention, demanding an end to the escalating discrimination and violence targeting their community across India. The gathering, which spilled into a larger public protest involving up to 3,500 participants near the Indian Parliament, highlighted a surge in anti-Christian incidents, including mob attacks, forced evictions, and legal barriers that have left many believers feeling increasingly marginalized in the world’s most populous nation.
The convention and subsequent march were organized by 18 Christian groups, drawing attendees from vulnerable regions where persecution has intensified. Protesters carried placards bearing messages such as “Live and let live,” “Stop atrocities against Christians,” and “Stop attacks on tribal Christians,” as they marched through the streets of the capital. Speakers at the event recounted harrowing stories of Hindu mobs preventing the burial of a Christian man in his hometown, assaults on missionaries, boycotts of Christian-owned shops, and families being driven from villages and denied access to essential services like water and healthcare.
“This year alone has seen a significant deterioration in the situation for Christians,” said one organizer, emphasizing the role of discriminatory laws and societal pressures in fostering hostility. The group vowed to draft a national manifesto calling for robust religious freedom protections, equality for Dalit Christians—who face compounded caste-based discrimination—and swift justice for victims of persecution.
The rally comes amid broader concerns over religious minorities in India. According to reports, violence against Christians has risen sharply, with incidents including church vandalism, arbitrary arrests under anti-conversion laws, and economic boycotts in rural areas. Christian leaders have accused the federal government of failing to curb these attacks, pointing to a pattern of inaction that emboldens perpetrators. In response, convention attendees urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration to enforce existing constitutional safeguards for religious equality and investigate hate crimes more rigorously.
This event echoes earlier protests, such as a February 2023 rally in New Delhi where over 2,000 Christians similarly decried rising anti-Christian persecution. However, participants noted that the current climate feels more precarious, with legalized discrimination exacerbating everyday vulnerabilities for the country’s estimated 28 million Christians, who make up about 2.3% of the population.
This story was originally published in tconews.in. Read the full story here.