by Santosh Digal

Respected for his struggle in favor of minorities, he has been viciously attacked on Twitter. His profile assaulted by Hindu radicals, his phone number posted on the social network. Support from Christian activists and lay people. His daughter: "His commitment to society does not give permission to those who disagree with him to harass or insult him".

New Delhi (AsiaNews) - It is a "planned attack. I received death threats and violent insults from so many people. My reputation is destroyed, my life in danger. I fear for my life and my freedom, but above all there is an ongoing conspiracy to destroy religious harmony“,  writes Dr. John Dayal, Christian activist and member of the National Integration Council.

The activist has lodged a formal complaint with police in Delhi, following prolonged attacks on his Twitter profile, and by phone. "The campaign of insults – he continues - is not directed only against me, but against the Christian community in general. It looks like a real attack orchestrated to undermine religious harmony and hurt the feelings of Christians and of all Indians”.

A group of five people - including Pramod Singh, president of the Christian Lawyers Association, Abraham M. Pattiyani, governmental member of Delhi Minority Commission and Fr. Savari Muthu, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Delhi - met Bhim Sain Bassi, commissioner of the Indian capital yesterday.

The five expressed concern at the level of threats being levelled against the Christian activist. The campaign of slander that started on September 12, has become viral, so much so that within a few hours the theme "Shame John Dayal" trended on the popular platform.

Dr. Dayal, who is also secretary general of the All India Christians Council and former president of the All India Catholic Union, is also being subjected to verbal intimidation and insults. In the complaint, he writes: "I have subscribed to the website twitter.com and use the medium to communicate with various people. I have been the subject of tremendous and vile abuse (both personal and religious in nature) on twitter, from various miscreants for a long time now. I regularly receive threats to my life and liberty and live under constant fear. Previously I made complaints to the concerned authorities, however, no action has been taken till date"

He also said that the Hindu radicals are in possession of his cell phone number and have published it on the site, inviting the whole world to threaten and insult him. Since that time, he can no-longer use his phone. Dayal has asked the Indian police to act against those who are pursuing him and to protect it from further damage to his person and the community of Christians.

For some time now, Hindu fundamentalists have been targeting Catholic churches and communities, accusing them of proselytizing among the population. Many activists have denounced attacks on their online profiles. These include Dr. Ram Puniyani,  a secularist and staunch defender of social harmony in India. He wrote on his personal page: "The insults and death threats against Dr. John Dayal is one of the most disturbing episodes of recent times. He is the defender of human rights. He is involved in a serious way in the defense of values ​​such as pluralism, secularism, social harmony and the poorest sections of society.  He is a valued and long-time activist and supports the rights of minorities, Dalits and Adivasis ". "We need - Puniyani continues to affirm - the 'right to dissent' and to ensure that these online threats are recorded as crimes. We ask that adequate protection be guaranteed to Dr. Dayal. Those who insist on these hate crimes must be identified and punished according to law. "

Finally Karuna Dayal, daughter, director of an online newspaper, reports: "John Dayal, my father, an Indian citizen, journalist and minority rights activist. I have seen his activism grow each day, and his savings getting depleted because he is too voluble, too opinionated, and too unafraid to be employed as the full-time journalist that he once was. That was his choice to make. He lives by the choice, and makes a living with the spare writing or speaking assignment that comes his way. However, what should not be a choice is his right to live fearlessly in his own country. His activism does not give permission, to those who do not agree, to unleash threats and abuse online".

Despite the threats, Dr. Dayal writes in the complaint: "I refuse to remain silent, be forced or intimidated. I will continue my work on behalf of justice and human rights ".

• india
• john
• dayal
• activist
• death
• threats
• hindu
• fundamentalism