Trump and Modi meet amid silence over India’s persecuted Christians
The US president has pledged to eradicate Islamic extremism. India is the largest democracy in the world, but for Sajan K George, “not everyone is the same. Minorities, Tribals and Dalits do not enjoy the same equality as the majority."
Mumbai (AsiaNews) – In his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump "remained silent on the Christian community in India,” said Sajan K George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC).
The US president likes to paint himself as a Christian paladin in the world, but for the GCIC president, whilst Trump "spoke of his administration’s aim of eradicating Islamic fundamentalism, he said nothing about the violence against the Christian minority in India" by Hindu nationalists.
The two leaders met this week in Washington, full of hugs and handshakes, marking a major development in US-India relations, especially in terms of the fight against Pakistan-based Islamic terrorism and the containment of Chinese hegemony.
However, for Sajan K George, "Christians in the United States suffer the impact of religious intolerance" in India. A striking example is Compassion International, a US-based NGO operating in India since 1968, that was forced to close this year.
Another was the series of attacks on religious freedom by Hindu nationalists involving US citizens during Lent and Palm Sunday.
On 7 April, Hindu Yuva Vahini radicals broke into a church in Dadhauli, Maharajganj District (Uttar Pradesh) and broke up the religious service underway. At that time, about 150 people were worshipping in the church, including ten American tourists.
The next day, a Christian-themed event was cancelled at the last moment in Bangalore, Karnataka, when the authorities revoked its permit. More than 1,000 people were expected to attend a conference by two American evangelical pastors.
In his initial greeting at the White House, President Trump told Modi: "Thank you very much. Prime Minister Modi, thank you for being here with us today. It’s a great honor to welcome the leader of the world’s largest democracy to the White House.
“Unfortunately,” said the GCIC president, "in India, the world's largest democracy, not everyone is the same. Minorities, Tribals and Dalits do not enjoy the same equality as the majority."
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