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INDIA: HINDUTVA AND PERSECUTION ADVANCE UNCHALLENGED
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Hindu elites in the Sangh Parivar (Hindu nationalist forces) are
striving to attain Hindu power in a Hindu State, primarily to
perpetuate their own caste privilege. The strategy of the Sangh Parivar
is to convert the indigenous, traditionally animist, Congress-voting
tribals to Hinduism, and through a fear campaign bring Hindus together
in the Hindutva (Hindu nationalist) camp. The fear campaign revolves
around demonising and incitement against Christianity which is
portrayed as an existential threat to national security, sovereignty
and social cohesion. Hindutva is presented as the only solution to
this. The Hinduised tribals are then used as ‘vote-cattle’ for the
Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. They are also recruited into
militias to be pitted against Christians, thus setting the tribals
communities against one another. (The Hindu caste system is essentially
institutionalised racism. Most high-caste Aryan Hindus would happily be
rid of all tribals, except that they have value as vote-cattle,
militants and menial labourers.)

To advance their strategy, the Sangh has invented the ‘social kumbh’: a
non-traditional Hindu ‘kumbh’ (pilgrimage and festival) based on newly
invented, purpose-built mythology. A social kumbh essentially provides
Hindutva forces with a religious platform for launching a political
campaign. Vitriolic incitement to violence against Christians is an
integral element of the social kumbh.

The Sangh is presently organising a social kumbh for 10-12 Feb 2011. It
will be held on the banks of the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh. Some
2 million Hindu devotees are expected to pour into the predominantly
tribal district for the Maa Narmada Samajik Kumbh (Mother Narmada
Social Kumbh). There they will hear toxic incitement against
Christians, witness mass conversions of tribals and be recruited to the
Hindutva cause. Hindu leaders attending a ground-breaking ceremony at
the kumbh site on 22 April pledged to ‘cleanse Mandla of Christians’
(Compass Direct News, 20 May). Ten days later a mob of around 40 armed,
abusive and belligerent Hindu militants stormed worship in the home of
local pastor Bhag Chand Rujhiya (36). The police arrived and took
Pastor Rujhiya away to be interrogated, harassed and intimidated. He
was released after being forced to sign papers promising that he would
cease evangelisation in the area and would no longer lead worship or
prayers. After living in hiding for a week, Pastor Rujhiya returned
with his wife and children, ‘ready to face whatever comes our way’.

In neighbouring Chhattisgarh four young men belonging to the Bhilai
Brethren Assembly were distributing gospel tracts door-to-door on 15
April when they were mobbed and beaten. Hindu militants had mobilised a
large mob against the young evangelists, even bringing media along to
report the attack. When Pastor Shalu Ninan rushed to their aid, he too
was beaten. When the Christians went to the police station to file a
report, they were charged with ‘forcible conversions’ and arrested
under Chhattisgarh’s Freedom of Religion Act. After seven days in Durg
Jail (where they continued to witness for Christ) they were bailed.

On 17 April Hindu militants invaded a Christian revival meeting in
Betul district of Madhya Pradesh. Theology student Amit Gilbert (23)
was killed and his body dumped down a well. On 2 May Indian evangelist
Ravi Murmu (28, married with one daughter) was hacked to death as he
walked home after showing a gospel film in Laxmanpur in the northern
state of Bihar. Incidents of intolerance and violence against
Christians occur almost daily. As violence is rewarded with impunity,
Hindutva advances unchallenged, with persecution escalating and
intensifying across the whole of India.

WE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL:

* bless the courageous work being done by India’s missionaries,
awakening the conscience and the spirit of many Indians — tribals,
who are liberated by the gospel; and Hindus, who are humbled by it.

* shake India’s government and the secular, educated elite out of
their nonchalance regarding Hindutva; may they awake to the danger,
rise in defence of peace, equity and justice, and insist on an end
to incitement and impunity.

* frustrate the wicked schemes of those planning the Mandla kumbh
(Psalm 146:8,9).

‘The nations roar like the roaring of many waters, but he will rebuke
them, and they will flee far away, chased like chaff on the mountains
before the wind and whirling dust before the storm.’ (Isaiah 17:13 ESV)

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SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
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HINDUTVA AND PERSECUTION IN INDIA ADVANCE UNCHALLENGED

Hindutva (Hindu nationalism) is a movement run by Hindu elites, seeking
Hindu power in a Hindu State, primarily to safeguard their own caste
privilege. Their strategy is to convert the traditionally animist
tribals to Hinduism and then through a fear campaign to bring all
Hindus together in the Hindutva camp. That way they aim to get a voting
majority for the Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party. The fear campaign
revolves around demonising and incitement against Christians and
Christianity, that are portrayed as an existential threat to Indian
sovereignty, national security and social cohesion. Hindutva ideology
continues to advance unchallenged and Hindutva violence continues to be
rewarded with impunity. As a result, persecution of Christians is
escalating and intensifying all across India. Please pray for India and
for her suffering Church.

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We suggest that churches and fellowships using the above Summary might
also provide a copy of the listed prayer points to be used in their
worship by people who are leading in prayer.