We the undersigned Indian Christians as citizens of our country India and as Christians in unequivocal terms denounce the growing intolerance in the country. We also denounce the sinister attempts to do away with reservation policy and ultimately the attempt to undermine the Constitution of India; we denounce the planned move to utilize religion for politico-economic benefits; we denounce the well orchestrated efforts to use government machinery to achieve ones evil ends; we denounce all the efforts to divide the nation into fiefdom of some elements.
We denounce all the attempts to erode scientific temper and scholarship by meddling with the education system of the country. We are in special way concerned at how the Indigenous Adivasi People in our country are being coerced to leave their traditional nature-based religious beliefs and practices and are subjected to so-called ‘ghar vapsi’ by some hindutva elements thus ushering in disharmony within their communities. Under this pretext, they are being alienated from their natural habitat and resources.
As citizens, we uphold the democratic, secular and socialist principles and practices of our mother country; we uphold the basic foundations of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity enshrined in our Constitution for all the citizens of the country; we uphold the right to freedom of different cultures, religions, ways of life, beliefs, traditions, practices, customs and orientations; we uphold the right of the citizens to live a life without any intimidation by anyone; we uphold the age old tradition of living in harmony and unity by all the citizens of this country; we uphold the value of rural reconstruction and nation building.
Further, we stand in solidarity with all victims of targeted violence against Adivasis, Dalits, Women, religious minorities and people of other orientations. We uphold freedom of expression and ways of life. We are in defence of human rights defenders and advocacy groups.
We stand in solidarity with all those from various walks of life, faiths, traditions, backgrounds, cultures, communities, professions and orientations who have raised voice against the growing intolerance in the country and call upon all the citizens to resist every move to create crisis and conflict by some vested interests.
We invite others too to stand up at this time and express concern and do whatever is needed to uphold inclusive development, peace, unity, integrity, sovereignty and harmony in our Country India.
Citizens of India
Mr. Francis Colaco – Former DGP Karnataka
John Dayal – Member, National Integration Council, Writer and Activist
Archbishop Thomas Macwan, Archbishop of Gandhinagar, Gujarat
Henri Tiphagne–Secretary, Human Rights Defenders Alert (HRDA, New Delhi)
Ms.Virginia Saldanha - Secretary, Indian Christian Women's Movement, Mumbai
Darryl D'Monte – Journalist, Maharashtra
Dr. Walter Fernandes – Social Scientist, Guwahati
Cedric Prakash – Human Rights Activist , Ahmedabad
A.C. Michael – Former Minority Commission Member, Govt of Delhi
Lukose Vallatharai IAS (Rtd) – Bengaluru
Philomena Fernandez – Goans in Gulf
Dolphy Dsouza - Police Reforms Watch, Mumbai
Eugene Culas, Director, Voice of Dalit International, UK
Dr. Kochurani Abraham - Indian Women Theologians Forum, Kottayam
Managing Committee Members of the Bombay Catholic Sabha, Kalina Unit
BG Koshy - The Rainbow Forum, Bengaluru
Margaret Gonsalves - ANNNI Charitable Trust, Maharashtra
Mary Alfred, International Travel House, Mumbai
Fr. Dominic Emmanuel – Media Person, Delhi
Dr. Fr. Felix Raj – Principal, St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata
Dr. Hazel D'Lima - Mumbai
Aasha Ramesh – Bengaluru
Deepak Mukarji – Delhi
Clement Periera – Bengaluru
Alana Golmei – Manipur
Ajaya Singh – Bhubaneswar
Manju Tirkey – Rourkela
Harvey Hoddings – Bengaluru
Cynthia Stephen – Bengaluru
Dr. Keith D Cunha – Bengaluru
Helen Saldanha – New York
Alex Ekka – Ranchi
Marie Charmaine Lamount - Bengaluru
Rajesh M Singh – Bengaluru
Dr. Goldy George – Raipur
R. Viegas – Mumbai
Gracias C – Bengaluru
Benny Chiramel – Trivandrum
Venus Mario John – Bengaluru
Lynette Gomes – Mumbai
Sebastian Poomattam – Chattisgarh
Harry Pereira – Bengaluru
Anthony Dias – Mumbai
Santona Das – Bengaluru
M. Shimray – Manipur
A R F Viegas – Mumbai
Fredrick Francis – Bengaluru
Rebecca Kurian – Bengaluru
Angela L Viegas – Mumbai
Omena Matthan – Bengaluru
Eldred Tellis – Mumbai
Loyola Azavedo – Mumbai
Fulgence Lakra – Jashpur
Sannybhai – Surat
Mario Jason Braganza – Thane
Prasanna Thomas – Mumbai
Aloysius Irudayam - Madurai,
Joe Mattam – Vadodara
Joe Xavier – Madurai
Rosely Cheeramkunnel – Mumbai
Sr Mariola BS – Mangalaru
Velangani Sinnamuthu – Kalol, Gujarat
Stan Swamy - Ranchi
A.J. Philip - Delhi
Stanley H Mark - Bengaluru
Jothi – Kolkata
Alwyn D’Souza – Bangkok
Julius Gonsalves - Bengaluru
Dorothy D'Souza - Pune
Manu Alphonse – Chennai
Fredrick Francis - Bengaluru
Ruth D’Souza - Maharashtra
Benedict Joy - Bengaluru
R. Viegas – Mumbai
Philu Thomas, Pune
Rapheal RSM - Bengaluru
Xavier Jeyaraj - Kolkatta
William Stanley – Vizag
Lewis James – Bengaluru
Dr. Rudi Heredia - Mumbai
Bobby – Delhi
K.M. Selvaraj – Ooty
Freda Coelho - Ahmedabad
Anoushka Viegas - Mumbai
Ruby – Jammu
James Pochury - Nagaland
Xavier Manjooran – Songad, Gujarat
Shanta Mathai – Bengaluru
Nithiya Sagayam – Trichy
Apem Shangh - Manipur
Premalatha Kumar – Bengaluru
Lydia Fernandez – Bengaluru
Mathai Kocuparampil – Ahmedabad
Prashant Olalekar – Lonavala
Valerian Mendonca - Belgium
Rita Puthenkalam – Bihar
Leela Jose - Kochi
Enid Fernandes – Mumbai
Antony Arulraj - New Delhi
Dinesh Braganza – Mumbai
Mathew AJ – Trichy
Rohit James Joseph – Mumbai
Sr Jessy Leena BS - Mangalaru
Velangani Sinnamuthu – Kalol, Gujarat
Lynette Viegas – Lector, Our Lady of Egypt Church, Mumbai
Praxedes Gomes – Senior Citizen, Mumbai
Sahaya Philomin Raj – Tamil Nadu
Owen Chourappa – Kohima
David Solomon - Dumka
Varkey Perekkatt - Delhi
Jacob Kujur – Pathalgaon
Lilly Pereira BS - Austria
Lourdu Raju.D.Joy – Khammam, Telangana
Dr. Pius Kizha - Kerala
Nestor J Rodrigues - Bengaluru
Samuel Kapani - Austria
Vedanayagam – Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu
Arockiasamy Arulandu - Madurai
Dr. Prakash Louis – Patna
What do you think?
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User comments (1)
The entire Christian population of this country now is only nearly 8 million. equal to less than 3 per cent of the total population of the country.
Still Christians own and operate thousands of schools, colleges, hospitals, old age homes etc etc.
The main problem here is "conversion" against which the local people in each area object. In some states there isw anti-conversion law in force.
The present National Govt. is backed by BHP/RSS and other fringe groups supporting anti conversion activities. In the past Christian missionaries converted some people especially the "adivasis".
Christians started schools and provided free education to the locals and today they demand proper wages/treatment etc. They are demanding to dismantle the "bonded labor" practice etc.
The rich high caste people unable to stand/face the situation where their labours on a fine morning demanding just wages or in many cases refusing to work as bonded labors. This creates the whole situation difficult for Christians.
The easiest way is to cry hoarse about religious conversion.
We Christians enjoy freedom - Indian freedom - which is not the case the world over. Stray incidents happen here and there, India is a very big country. Please note to get excited about it.