The All India Catholic Union (AICU) has called upon the governments of South Asia to ensure the safety and security of religious minorities within their borders. The Union highlighted that attacks on one minority group could have cascading effects across neighboring countries, threatening regional stability.
During its recent Annual General Meeting in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, the AICU passed a series of resolutions addressing various issues affecting Christian and other minority communities. The Union urged the governments to allocate scholarships for students from minority communities proportionate to their population and to restore the rights of Dalit Christians and Muslims, which were stripped away by the Presidential Order of 1950. These rights are still being contested in courts.
Er. Elias Vaz, AICU National President, expressed appreciation for Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who leads the new Bangladeshi government, for his commitment to the safety and security of Christian and Hindu minorities following the recent upheaval in the country.
Er. Vaz also urged Goa Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferraro, the newly appointed president of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), to leverage his position to advocate for religious freedom in South Asia. He emphasized that religious freedom is not only a fundamental human right but also crucial for economic and social development in the region.
The AICU further called on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take urgent measures to address the deteriorating situation in Manipur, where violence erupted on May 3, 2023, following the gang rape of two Kuki women. The Union criticized the state government’s response and urged the Prime Minister to bring conflicting groups to the discussion table for a lasting peace.
Additionally, the Union appealed to President Draupadi Murmu to safeguard the rights of Scheduled Tribes across the country, noting that some political groups have incited violence against Christian Tribals. The AICU urged the President to prevent any attempts to undermine the rights of Christian Adivasis.
