AIPF delegation submits memorandum to the President’s Secretariat in New Delhi
New Delhi, (Samajweekly) :The All India Peoples Front (AIPF) has received numerous serious complaints from representatives and citizens of the Christian community across the country regarding the increasing violence, threats, harassment, and insecurity they face. These citizens have requested the AIPF to raise this issue with the government and constitutional institutions to ensure their safety and that strict action is taken against the perpetrators. Following these complaints, an AIPF delegation visited the President’s Secretariat today and submitted a memorandum addressed to President Droupadi Murmu. The memorandum, sent by AIPF founding member Akhilendra Pratap Singh and National President S.R. Darapuri, was submitted in New Delhi by National Treasurer Dinkar Kapoor and National Working Committee member Rajesh Sachan.
The memorandum, citing data from the United Christian Forum, states that anti-Christian incidents have increased by 500 percent in the last ten years. More than three-quarters of these cases are from just five states: Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh. The highest number of cases occurred in Uttar Pradesh. Major instances of this violence and harassment include attacks on pastors, nuns, and ordinary Christian citizens, attacks on churches and prayer meetings, social and economic boycotts, misuse of so-called anti-conversion laws, arbitrary arrests, and obstruction of burial rights. In many of these cases, the police and administration have been inactive or biased, forcing the Christian community to live in an atmosphere of fear and insecurity. All of this is a blatant violation of Articles 14, 15, 21, and 25 & 28 of the Constitution. Furthermore, this situation is contrary to India’s international human rights obligations. The Constitution also places a duty on the state to protect the life, dignity, and religious freedom of all citizens, especially minorities.
The President was urged, in her capacity as the constitutional head of the state, to intervene and advise the central and state governments to take effective steps to ensure the safety and security of minorities, especially the Christian community; to direct that impartial investigations be conducted in all cases and that strict legal action be taken against the culprits; to ensure a review of the misuse of anti-conversion laws; and to initiate necessary measures to activate and strengthen the constitutional and statutory institutions related to minority protection.
Dinkar Kapoor National Treasurer All India People’s Front
Mobile: 9450153307
