New Delhi: Christian women leaders, religious figures, and community representatives have urged President Draupadi Murmu to address the increasing persecution of Christian minorities in India.
In an urgent email, they highlighted growing attacks on Christian women in multiple states. They cited a tragic case in Chhattisgarh, where Kunika Kashyap, a six-month pregnant tribal woman, suffered a miscarriage after a brutal attack for praying for a sick relative on January 2, 2025.
The appeal documents several incidents of violence:
Chhattisgarh: Physical assaults, killings, and false accusations leading to judicial remand.
Jharkhand: Cases of ostracism, isolation, and forced religious conversions.
Manipur: Since May 2023, murders, sexual violence, and displacement.
Punjab & Tamil Nadu: Reports of forced sex work, family abuse, and ostracism.
They emphasized that these attacks threaten religious freedom and constitutional rights, forming a deliberate campaign of persecution.
The signatories urged the President to ensure:
Immediate investigations into reported cases.
Protection for vulnerable Christian women.
Action against perpetrators.
Implementation of constitutional safeguards.
“These attacks are not just ethnic conflicts. The destruction of religious institutions and targeted violence expose a deliberate campaign against Christians,” the appeal states.
Prominent signatories include Mrs. Tingneviah Lotzem, Virginia Saldanha (Indian Women Theologians’ Forum), Dr. Anitha Chettiar (Institute of Social Service), Dr. Vandana Benjamin (Alpha Omega Christian Mahasangh), Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ (Human Rights Activist), Dr. John Dayal (Former PM’s National Integration Council Member), Rev. Dr. Richard Howell (Evangelical Church of God), Bishop Akhilesh Edgar (Council of Evangelical Churches in India), and Rev. Vijayesh Lal (Evangelical Fellowship of India).
The appeal is endorsed by over 460 Christian leaders, community members, and civil society representatives nationwide.
