Tribal Christians hold sit-in against Hindu nationalist violence in Chhattisgarh
In Narayanpur district, hundreds of protesters want complaints to be filed against people who have attacked and evicted tribal residents for converting to Christianity, instigated by local politicians. As many 21 such incidents have been reported this month. “Our fundamental rights [. . .] are being taken away from us,” reads one complaint.
Raipur (AsiaNews) – A group of tribal Christians from 14 villages held a sit-in in front of the office of the local collector’s office in Narayanpur, a district in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh to denounce a series of abuses by Hindu nationalists.
Protesters claim that they were attacked and evicted from their homes for converting to Christianity.
According to one complaint, last Sunday, just a week before Christmas, 50 people were beaten and driven from their homes in Cherang, Bastar.
However, this was not an isolated incident. So far, 21 separate incidents were reported in the same area this month; 15 in November and three in October. Christians were also physically attacked in Bhatpal, Modenga and Gohda.
About a thousand people are currently camped outside Narayanpur Collectorate to pressure the authorities to register the complaint about the violence.
The perpetrators were allegedly incited by local political leaders, influenced by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and other Hindutva organisations.
The complaint filed by the Christians reads: “The leaders of the villages incited others to threaten us, abuse us, and physically assault us by destroying and stealing our crops and produce. There were also calls for a social boycott, accusing Christians of occult activities.
“We have been living in these villages for generations now without any discrimination, peacefully practising our religion and its rituals. However, there are some leaders who are inciting others to attack us and our community.
“The name of the Gram Sabha (village assembly) is being used to attack us within our homes. The women and our children have become targets of lewd comments. Our fundamental rights, our right to live, and our human rights are being taken away from us.”
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04/05/2023 18:07
19/10/2021 17:02
