Summary Religious minorities demanded the government to formulate a zero tolerance policy in this regard.
Dunya News (Web desk) - In the wake of the “orchestrated campaign of hate” and violence against the religious minorities, Muslims and Christians in India have joined the civil society groups to force the government to take steps to halt such campaigns.
The public meeting that was organized by more than 30 civil rights and minority groups in New Delhi witnessed a reception of more than 200 people. The meeting focused on the deteriorating condition of the religious minorities in India.
Incidents like the forced conversion of 60 Christians to Hinduism in Asroi village in northern India’s Uttar Pradesh and several Hindi groups banning non-Hindus in around 50 villages in Chhattisgarh state the previous month has compelled the organizers to arrange an event that voices the troubled lives they have been thrust into.
Christians and Muslim leaders have also issued a report that features details on the alleged attacks on minorities within the first 100 days of the newly formulated federal government. The report outlines more than 600 incidents of targeted attacks of violence against the minority bracket of the state.
The pro-Hindu Bhartiya Janata Party has took over the charge of the federal government in May.
“These incidents against minorities are part of an institutionalized anarchy. We have to confront this as Indians,” Navaid Hamid, secretary of the South Asian Council for Minorities, told ucanews.com.
He further urged the federal government to instill confidence and trust amount the minority communities in India so they may feel secure.
The report accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi to keep mum on the prevalent campaign of hate against Muslims and Christians of India by the Hindu extremist groups.
The first 100 days of the new regime have seen a rising crescendo of hate speech against Muslims and Christians, says Sehba Farooqui, a Muslim leader.
Muslims and Christians have had their "identity derided, their patriotism scoffed at, their citizenship questioned and their faith mocked", said Farooqui. "The environment in the country has degenerated into one of coercion, divisiveness and suspicion."
Participants of the meeting expressed grave concern on the slow action being taken against the suspected attacks, which is bound to encourage the hostile behavior. They demanded formulation of a zero tolerance policy against the acts of hate and violence against the minority bracket of the country.
A senior leader of the opposition Congress party, Manish Tiwari, has accused the federal government of supporting the communal forces in India. He further said the government is in-sync with the hate incidents against the religious minorities.
John Dayal, a member of the National Integration Council said they intend to organize further public meetings and take a peaceful route to protest in near future. He proposed to knock the doors of the court if and when required.
Muslims and Christians represent 13.4% and 2.3% respectively in a state 80% dominated by Hindus in a total population of 1.2 billion people.
