More than 10,000 people gathered at Azad Maidan on Monday in solidarity with Christians in Delhi. Organised by the Bombay Catholic Sabha and Indian Christian Voice, the event saw speakers from Muslim as well as Hindu communities condemning the attacks on minorities across the country.
More than 10,000 people gathered at Azad Maidan on Monday in solidarity with Christians in Delhi. Organised by the Bombay Catholic Sabha and Indian Christian Voice, the event saw speakers from Muslim as well as Hindu communities condemning the attacks on minorities across the country.
Bishop Agnelo Gracias of the Archdiocese of Bombay equated the current situation to that of Nazism, saying: "The Nazis isolated one religion and attacked believers. These instances are an attempt to wipe out the differences in the name of one religion. It looks like a campaign against Christians, and even though the incidents seem to be in isolation, there is a pattern that can be seen."
The Bishop asked whether the government's silence was co-incidental or deliberate, adding: "Their silence is a deafening one. I fear that the word 'secular' will be wiped out and democracy will be a thing of the past. The current government was formed under the banner of of development. It is an attempt to make India one-dimensional. We can only hope that the majority community will help in keeping India a secular democratic republic."
The rally focused on many issues besides the desecration of religious places and the arrest of peaceful protestors in Delhi. The Ghar Wapsi programmes, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti's remarks on Ramzadon, the violation of constitutional rights and denial of Christmas as a holiday due to 'good governance' day were also discussed.
Groups of various Christian denominations gathered from across the state to make their presence felt. They addressed the RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal in their speeches for spreading animosity.
Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat, former commander-in-chief of the armed forces, said that if such instances continued, the army would break, and if that happened, the country would not be secure. "Emperors Ashoka, Akbar and even Shivaji Maharaj spoke of secular values. The books talking about Shivaji as a secular ruler disappeared from the archives when the new government came to power. People who make groups in the name of Shivaji Maharaj don't paint the true picture of him. It is not just an attack on churches, but an attack on the foundation of the country," said Bhagwat.
Janet D'souza, former vice-chairman of the Minorities Commission, spoke of how the commission has been dissolved. She said that the new government has pulled down the Maulana Azad board, while the Urdu Academy and many other minority scholarships, loans and schemes now lie defunct.
Maulanas Mustakim Azmi and Zahir Abbas Rizvi pledged their support to the group and said that no religion that respects itself will attack another religion. "Our constitution allows every citizen to practise the faith they want.
People who commit such crimes are not religious because no religion asks anybody to harm others. We should take an oath that whenever a religion is threatened, we should unite and protect it on grounds of humanity.
Places of worship are the nation's identity and we will sacrifice what we can to save our identity. It is our nation and we have shed blood for its freedom. We stand with our brothers," Maulana Rizvi said.
Ashish Shinde, who came from Beed, said that if the government stays silent on these matters, Ghar Wapsi will be applied to them in the next elections, and they will be sent home.
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