Media coverage of historic Christian protest in New Delhi

Some Coverage of a Historic Christian Rally in New Delhi on 29th May 2007

Thousands of Christians, Dalits court arrest in Delhi
(http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=44634)New Delhi, May 29 (IANS) At least 4,000 Christians, Dalits and rights activists from across the country courted arrest here Tuesday while protesting against the "silence" of the government on the alleged rise in anti-Christian attacks.

At a rally, "Stop Violence on Christians", held at Jantar Mantar here, Christian and Dalit leaders, including All India Christian Council (AICC) president Joseph D’Souza, National Integration Council member John Dayal, Justice Party president Udit Raj and Mount Carmel School principal V.K. Williams, warned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that his silence could lead to killing of innocent people at the hands of communal forces.

"The protest is in the wake of attacks on Pastor Walter Masih in Jaipur, Rajasthan on April 19 and priests Ramesh Gopargode and Ajit Belavi on May 7 in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, and a high incidence of communal assaults this year thus far," Madhu Chandra, an AICC leader, told IANS.

Chandra said that in 2006, the AICC recorded at least one incident of anti-Christian attack every third day, "but this rose to one attack every alternate day during the first four months of this year".

The participants, who were from several states including Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, shouted slogans against the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, saying, "UPA government, wake up and stop atrocities on Christians."

Also present at the rally were victims of communal violence, including Masih and two Christians from Himachal Pradesh, Bernard Christopher and Ravinder Gautam, who were allegedly tonsured and forcibly "reconverted" to Hinduism in Kullu district May 23.

Dayal said Christianity had been reduced to a "daylight religion", because "the people of the community feel unsafe after sunset".

Expressing disappointment with the Congress party that leads the UPA, Dayal added that it was no longer only the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that should be blamed for anti-Christian agenda. "Look at the Congress-government in Himachal Pradesh, which enacted the anti-conversion law," he said.

Dalit leader Raj told the Christians not to trust any political party including the Congress saying, "You must have hopes only from yourselves."

Offering Dalits' support to the Christian community, Raj added that they should "learn to identify their friends".

The crowd left the Parliament Street police station, where they courted arrest, at 2.15 p.m. after an official announced that there were not enough jails to keep such a huge number of people.

Christians in Mumbai also staged a rally at Azad Maidan to show solidarity with the protesters here.

IANS
» 05/29/2007 15:45INDIAIn Delhi 4,000 Christians arrested in peaceful protest against violencePolice take into custody almost everyone in today’s big rally in the capital. Protesters took to the streets demanding respect for their human and constitutional rights.
Delhi (AsiaNews) - More than 4,000 protestors marched through the streets of India's capital today to call for the Union Government of India to break its silence on violence against Christians across the country have been arrested by the police.

The rally, called "Stop Violence On Christians", was organised after two recently televised attacks on Christians and an increase of anti-Christian incidents in the first few months of 2007.

The rally started at 10am at Jantar Mantar near the Parliament in New Delhi. Rally organisers had expected 2,000 people, but attendance was estimated at 5,000. Speeches demanded human dignity and constitutional rights for the Christian community and other repressed minorities. Minorities are facing harassment from Hindutva fundamentalists and, in many cases, local government officials.

The Station House Officer, Parliament Street Police Station, confirmed he had "arrested" approximately 4,000 people at 1:05pm and released them at 2:10pm.

"This was the first time since November 1997 that such large numbers of Christians have been arrested in the Parliament Street Police Station. It was incredible to see Catholic nuns, Protestant pastors, civil society activists and more singing Christian songs of liberation within the police station," said John Dayal, Secretary General, All India Christian Council, and President, All India Catholic Union..F. 00889190153 All rights reserved. Content on this site is made available for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not reproduce, republish, sell or otherwise distribute the content or any modified or altered versions of it without the express written ago)
\n\u003cdiv\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:center\" align\u003d\"center\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"2\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:11pt\"\>\u003cimg height\u003d\"96\" src\u003d\"/mail/?attid\u003d0.0.1&disp\u003demb&view\u003datt&th\u003d112d7f984048d80f\" width\u003d\"659\"\>\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"line-height:80%;text-align:justify\" align\u003d\"center\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"2\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\>\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\> \u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:center\" align\u003d\"center\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"4\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\>For immediate release\u003c/span\>\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:center\" align\u003d\"center\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"4\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\>\u003c/span\>Thousands of Christians “Arrested” in Peaceful \nProtest Against Growing Anti-Christian Violence Across \nIndia\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:center\" align\u003d\"center\"\>\u003ci\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"2\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:11pt;font-style:italic\"\>Muslim, \nDalit, Women, Student, and Christian groups unite in \nrally\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/i\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:center\" align\u003d\"center\"\>\u003ci\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"2\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:11pt;font-style:italic\"\>near \nIndia’s Parliament in New Delhi\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/i\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\>NEW DELHI, INDIA – May 29, 2007: More than \n4,000 protestors marched through the streets of India’s capital today to call \nfor the Union Government of India to break its silence on violence against \nChristians across the country. The rally, called “Stop Violence On Christians”, \nwas organised after two recently televised attacks on Christians and an increase \nof anti-Christian incidents in the first few months of 2007.\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>",1]
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For immediate release
Thousands of Christians “Arrested” in Peaceful Protest Against Growing Anti-Christian Violence Across India
Muslim, Dalit, Women, Student, and Christian groups unite in rally
near India’s Parliament in New Delhi

NEW DELHI, INDIA – May 29, 2007: More than 4,000 protestors marched through the streets of India’s capital today to call for the Union Government of India to break its silence on violence against Christians across the country. The rally, called “Stop Violence On Christians”, was organised after two recently televised attacks on Christians and an increase of anti-Christian incidents in the first few months of 2007.
\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\> \u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cimg style\u003d\"width:0px\" height\u003d\"0\" src\u003d\"/mail/?attid\u003d0.0.2&disp\u003demb&view\u003datt&th\u003d112d7f984048d80f\" width\u003d\"0\"\>\u003cimg style\u003d\"width:347px\" height\u003d\"225\" alt\u003d\"\" hspace\u003d\"5\" src\u003d\"/mail/?attid\u003d0.0.3&disp\u003demb&view\u003datt&th\u003d112d7f984048d80f\" width\u003d\"347\" align\u003d\"right\" vspace\u003d\"5\" border\u003d\"0\"\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\>The rally started at 10am at Jantar Mantar \nnear the Parliament in New Delhi. Rally organisers had expected 2,000 people, \nbut attendance was estimated at 5,000. Speeches demanded human dignity and \nconstitutional rights for the Christian community and other repressed \nminorities. Minorities are facing harassment from Hindutva fundamentalists and, \nin many cases, local government officials.\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\>The Station House Officer, Parliament \nStreet Police Station, said he had “arrested” approximately 4,000 people at \n1:05pm and released them at 2:10pm. It is standard practice for protestors who \nobstruct traffic to be detoured into the police station yard. They are \ntemporarily detained for their own protection and allowed to state their demands \nto police authorities. \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\>“This was the first time since November \n1997 that such large numbers of Christians have been arrested in the Parliament \nStreet Police Station. It was incredible to see Catholic nuns, Protestant \npastors, civil society activists and more singing Christian songs of liberation \nwithin the police station,” said John Dayal, Secretary General, All India \nChristian Council.",1]
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The rally started at 10am at Jantar Mantar near the Parliament in New Delhi. Rally organisers had expected 2,000 people, but attendance was estimated at 5,000. Speeches demanded human dignity and constitutional rights for the Christian community and other repressed minorities. Minorities are facing harassment from Hindutva fundamentalists and, in many cases, local government officials.

The Station House Officer, Parliament Street Police Station, said he had “arrested” approximately 4,000 people at 1:05pm and released them at 2:10pm. It is standard practice for protestors who obstruct traffic to be detoured into the police station yard. They are temporarily detained for their own protection and allowed to state their demands to police authorities.

“This was the first time since November 1997 that such large numbers of Christians have been arrested in the Parliament Street Police Station. It was incredible to see Catholic nuns, Protestant pastors, civil society activists and more singing Christian songs of liberation within the police station,” said John Dayal, Secretary General, All India Christian Council.
\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\>Large numbers of Catholics and Evangelicals \nwere joined by Muslims, Buddhists and progressive Hindus, leaders of various \nwomen’s organisations, students groups from several universities, and Christian \nlawyers, teachers, and professors. Rally organisers reported attendees from at \nleast seven states in India.\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\>Dr. Joseph D’souza, President, All India \nChristian Council, said, “The diversity of protestors, from several religious \ncommunities, different Christian denominations, and even civil society groups, \nshow that India’s citizens want a truly secular India. People should be able to \npractice their faith without violent attacks. The government’s silence in the \nface of recent anti-Christian incidents is not only an injustice, it is \ndangerous.” \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\>Christian leaders fear copycat attacks \ncould come in the future due to silence by government authorities after recently \ntelevised beatings of pastors. Throughout the morning crowds chanted, “Prime \nMinister, your silence kills”. \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\>At 12:15pm, crowds began a march to present \na memorandum of demands to the Prime Minister of India. However, a majority of \nthe attendees were detained at the Parliament Street Police Station. Organisers \nsaid that they decided not to submit the memorandum as originally planned. \nInstead, it will be released as an open letter to the \ngovernment.",1]
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Large numbers of Catholics and Evangelicals were joined by Muslims, Buddhists and progressive Hindus, leaders of various women’s organisations, students groups from several universities, and Christian lawyers, teachers, and professors. Rally organisers reported attendees from at least seven states in India.

Dr. Joseph D’souza, President, All India Christian Council, said, “The diversity of protestors, from several religious communities, different Christian denominations, and even civil society groups, show that India’s citizens want a truly secular India. People should be able to practice their faith without violent attacks. The government’s silence in the face of recent anti-Christian incidents is not only an injustice, it is dangerous.”

Christian leaders fear copycat attacks could come in the future due to silence by government authorities after recently televised beatings of pastors. Throughout the morning crowds chanted, “Prime Minister, your silence kills”.

At 12:15pm, crowds began a march to present a memorandum of demands to the Prime Minister of India. However, a majority of the attendees were detained at the Parliament Street Police Station. Organisers said that they decided not to submit the memorandum as originally planned. Instead, it will be released as an open letter to the government.
\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\>Recent victims of anti-Christian violence \nspoke, such as Rev. Walter Masih from Jaipur, Rajasthan, whose beating by masked \nattackers on April 29, 2007 was broadcast nationally. Rev. Masih walks with a \nlimp due to the attack and shared his experience with the crowd inside the \npolice station with the help of a police PA system. \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\>Throughout the day, other speakers \nprotested the recent wave of violence, demanded immediate implementation of the \nMisra Commission recommendations, and even proposed new legislation. \n\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\>Bishop Karam Masih, Bishop of Delhi, Church \nof North India (CNI), said, “Today I don’t come as a CNI leader. I come as a \nChristian. All denominations should unite until all the anti-Christian \natrocities stop.”\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cimg style\u003d\"width:0px\" height\u003d\"0\" src\u003d\"/mail/?attid\u003d0.0.4&disp\u003demb&view\u003datt&th\u003d112d7f984048d80f\" width\u003d\"0\"\>\u003cimg style\u003d\"width:395px\" height\u003d\"275\" alt\u003d\"\" hspace\u003d\"5\" src\u003d\"/mail/?attid\u003d0.0.5&disp\u003demb&view\u003datt&th\u003d112d7f984048d80f\" width\u003d\"395\" align\u003d\"left\" vspace\u003d\"5\" border\u003d\"0\"\>Dr. Ms. \nBegum Fatima Shahmaz, India Peace Organisation, said, “Those parties and groups \nwho are persecuting Christians should be treated as terrorists. It is \nunacceptable to attack others based on a difference in spiritual beliefs.”",1]
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Recent victims of anti-Christian violence spoke, such as Rev. Walter Masih from Jaipur, Rajasthan, whose beating by masked attackers on April 29, 2007 was broadcast nationally. Rev. Masih walks with a limp due to the attack and shared his experience with the crowd inside the police station with the help of a police PA system.

Throughout the day, other speakers protested the recent wave of violence, demanded immediate implementation of the Misra Commission recommendations, and even proposed new legislation.

Bishop Karam Masih, Bishop of Delhi, Church of North India (CNI), said, “Today I don’t come as a CNI leader. I come as a Christian. All denominations should unite until all the anti-Christian atrocities stop.”

Dr. Ms. Begum Fatima Shahmaz, India Peace Organisation, said, “Those parties and groups who are persecuting Christians should be treated as terrorists. It is unacceptable to attack others based on a difference in spiritual beliefs.”

Dr. Udit Raj, National Chairman, All India Confederation of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes Organisations, said, “Today there is a special unity of Christians and Dalits around the country. We, Dalits, have been attacked for thousands of years and you have been recently attacked. Christians have given much to this country so I want to teach you how to be united, and, if you are united, we can stop the attacks.”

Mr. Mudra Rakshas, noted Hindi writer and theatre artist, said, “Because of the increasing attacks, we need a new law that tells police how they should handle people who are mistreating Christians. We should agitate until the new law comes.”

The Misra Commission, officially called the National Commission for Religious & Linguistic Minorities, recommended last week that the Union Government change a 1950 law which restricts government benefits to Scheduled Castes who are Hindu, Sikh or Buddhist. Millions of poor Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians would benefit from the change and the recommendations will likely affect pending cases before the Supreme Court of India.

The All India Christian Council (aicc) was a co-sponsor of the rally. Other organisers included several Christian groups and the All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations.
\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\>The aicc said meetings similar to the Delhi \ngathering were planned for today in Mumbai and smaller cities like Nagpur and \nPune. They also confirmed that yesterday, in 23 of 25 districts in Andhra \nPradesh, protest marches were held under the leadership of local aicc \nchapters.\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\>In 2006, there was an incident of \nharassment or violence against Christians approximately once every three days. \nIn the first four months of 2007, there has been an attack every other day on \naverage, according to records kept by the aicc. In addition to the televised \nattack on Rev. Masih, an attack by Hindutva activists on two pastors in \nKolhapur, Maharashtra, was televised on May 9, 2007. \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\>The All India Christian Council \n(\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.aiccindia.org\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>www.aiccindia.org\u003c/a\>), birthed in 1998, exists to protect and serve the Christian \ncommunity, minorities, and the oppressed castes. The aicc is a coalition of \nthousands of Indian denominations, organizations, and lay \nleaders.\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:justify\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:right\" align\u003d\"right\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12pt\"\>Release \nby\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-align:right\" align\u003d\"right\"\>",1]
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The aicc said meetings similar to the Delhi gathering were planned for today in Mumbai and smaller cities like Nagpur and Pune. They also confirmed that yesterday, in 23 of 25 districts in Andhra Pradesh, protest marches were held under the leadership of local aicc chapters.

In 2006, there was an incident of harassment or violence against Christians approximately once every three days. In the first four months of 2007, there has been an attack every other day on average, according to records kept by the aicc. In addition to the televised attack on Rev. Masih, an attack by Hindutva activists on two pastors in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, was televised on May 9, 2007.

The All India Christian Council (www.aiccindia.org), birthed in 1998, exists to protect and serve the Christian community, minorities, and the oppressed castes. The aicc is a coalition of thousands of Indian denominations, organizations, and lay leaders.

Release by Rev. Madhu Chandra