Fri Jan 26, 2007
Press Release
Over 10,000 Christians from across Andhra Pradesh
marched through Visakhapatnam City on January
24, 2007 and demanded to stop Visa Policing
of Foreign Christians, Graveyards in District
Headquarters and Major Towns for Christians
and Allocation of 10 Acres Open Ground to hold
Spiritual meetings for Christians.
New Delhi, January 25, 2007
The 57th Indian Republic Day is just one day
away, which reminds the democracy and secularism
that guarantee the fundamental rights to all
citizen of India irrespective of faith, religion,
color, caste and race. But Indian Christians
suffer persecution from Hindutva forces in every
walk of the life.
Andhra Pradesh Christians have suffered several
times by the draconian religious policing of
foreign visitors to the state evoking frightening
memories of the Sangh Parivar raj in New Delhi
whose similar action met with indignation and
condemnation from national and international
civil society. The state police and intelligence
agencies, often accompanied by thugs of the
Sangh Parivar, have been breaking into Christian
prayer and social meetings where international
guests are present. Several of such meetings
have been abruptly broken up by police who say
they will not permit the participation of foreigners
who are in India on a tourist visa. This
is an action that violates the Indian Constitutional
and International protocol.
Dr. Sam Paul – National Secretary
of All India Christian Council said that in
last three months there were four major Christian
meetings held at Rajahmundry, East Godavari
District on 16 – 20 November
2006; Visakhapatnam on 15 –
25 November 2006; Kakinada, East Godavari District
on 1 – 2 December 2006; and
Antarvedipalem, East Godavari District: 10 –
14 January 2007, which were obstructed by police
forces with thugs of Sangh Parivar.
Dr. Paul also said that the international visitors
are not here on missionary visas, which India
does not give though thousands of Hindu priests
routinely go abroad to preach in the West. Our
guests do not convert but participate in Christian
meetings. They merely attend ceremonies as faithful
Christians who do not lose their religious identity
just because they are in India. The discrimination
is patently against Christians.
Dr. John Dayal – Member of
National Integration Council of India, General
Secretary of All India Christian Council said
that Buddhists from Tibet, China, Japan and
other countries come to Bodh Gaya and fully
participate in religious and socio-political
activities connected with their communities
and their faith. Similarly, Sikhs citizens of
the US and the UK, Pakistan and Afghanistan,
come to Punjab for prayer and worship at gurudwaras.
People of Indian origin, citizens of Britain
and the United States of America, Europe and
Hong Kong, routinely come to India and fully
participate in all religious an social political
activities though they are foreign citizens.
He questioned that why not International Christian
communities come and join the prayer meetings
with their Indian Christian communities?
Two memorandums were submitted to state Chief
Minister and Prime Minister demanding to stop
Visa Policing of Foreign Christians, Graveyards
in District Headquarters and Major Towns for
Christians and Allocation of 10 acres Open Ground
to hold Spiritual meetings for Christians in
the state. Dr. Paul said that Andhra Pradesh
Government has granted acres of land to ISCKON
group recently. The similar must be granted
to Christian communities of the state.
The signatories of the memorandum are Dr. Sam
Paul - National Secretary, All India Christian
Council, Rev. Dr. M.A. Paul - District President,
Vizag All India Christian Council, Rev. Dr.
Yesupadam - Chairman, Vizag All India Christian
Council, Founder Love-n-care Ministries, Rev.
Prem - District President, West Godavari Dist.
All India Christian Council; Rev. Satyapal -
District President, Khammam District, All India
Christian Council; and Mr. Albert Lael - National
Organising Secretary, All India Christian Council.
Release by
Sd/-
(Mr. Madhu Chandra)
Regional Secretary
All India Christian Council, New Delhi
9868184939
