Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently met Pope Francis in Rome and said on Sunday that a collective effort is needed from all citizens towards achieving the goals of the country.
He said, “Our country can achieve its goals only if we remain united. India is not just a geographical unity but is a nation replete with the generous standards of ideals, notions, civilization, and culture. This land mass where 130 crore Indians live is an integral part of our soul, dreams, and aspirations,” the PM said while addressing the nation on the occasion ‘National Unity Day, which is being celebrated across the country to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
PM Modi said Sardar Patel wanted a strong, inclusive, sensitive, and alert India which has humility as well as development. The PM said “It is due to Sardar Patel’s inspiration that India is becoming fully capable of dealing with any challenges whether internal or external. “Country’s resolve and capabilities in water, sky, land, and space are unprecedented and the nation has started moving on the path of the new mission of ‘aatmanirbharta’ (self-reliance).”
However, PM Modi’s comments seem to contradict the rising bigotry and hatred towards Christians and Muslims. The Prime Minister has never has openly condemned religious hatred or riots while happening, has maintained a sanctimonious silence, which seemed almost like a proud approval. It is more important to speak during the heat of riots and violence yet at that time, not a single BJP leader, nor the Prime Minister of India rises to the occasion to tell fanatics to stop.
While he went to Rome to meet Pope Francis, here in India, Christians are being harassed, called rice bags, and churches are under attack and spied upon by the government. A 14-year-old boy recently was burned with acid and succumed to his attack because he had become a Christian two years ago, previously a Hindu. During the intervening two years, he and his family, (father and brother) were constantly threatened by fanatics and then one day, killed. The police refused to register it as a murder case and wrote it off as a case of suicide.
The victim’s father told ICC that his family converted to Christianity two years ago after being healed from an ailment. His sons after that became active leaders in the local church and led fellowship in their house, where nearly twenty-five people regularly attended prayer.
The father also crying said to ICC,“I don’t understand why this happened to my son and who might have done it, we didn’t do any harm to anybody in our village or anywhere else. My heart pains when I see my son.”
A local Pastor requesting anonymity, said to ICC, “This is very cruel of what happened to Nitin* (name changed), it just terrified the Christian community in the region. There has been increased anti-Christian sentiment, and attacks against Christians in the district are increasing, and these attacks are becoming more brutal, just like what happened to Nitin*
Christians here being harassed, called rice bags, churches are under attack, beaten, thrashed, killed, and spied upon by the government. No Christian feels safe anymore, go out and ask them.
In the end, actions speak louder than words, and all humans will ultimately not remember the abuses of our enemies but the silence of our friends, and especially the silence of top leaders, celebrities, and the presidents, prime ministers, kings, queens, rajas, and ranis of our nations along with the sanctimonious silence and distance of the Supreme Court.
Rita
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