Christians organize in India to protect rights

India (MNN) — Christians in India’s parliament, pastors, and church leaders gathered in that nation for a consultation to discuss how believers should be involved politically there.

HBI Global Partners sponsored the event. HBI’s Bobby Gupta says, “For the first time we had a consultation on the awareness of social political responsibility of the church.”

Gupta says they discussed establishing a Christian political party to help bring religious freedom issues to the forefront, but he says that idea was rejected. “The real agenda was to really develop a movement that will carry the issues of justice and righteousness for the church and the people of India,” he says.

The biggest concern among Christians in India is radical Hindus threatening to force Muslims and Christians out of the country. Since the election of the Congress Party, those ideas have been silenced. However, Gupta says it’s still a concern.

However, Christians are still afraid to publicly declare their religious affiliation, says Gupta. “The moment they do change it, they lose their economic benefits, they lose their jobs, (and) they lose their seats in colleges. So, there’s a tremendous exploitation that takes place,” he says.

As Christians lobby for the secularization of the country, Gupta says, “then I think that Christians will have the freedom to express their religious faith and that there will be sweeping presence of Christianity throughout India.”

The next step in the process is to hold another consultation January 20th in Tamil Nadu. A nationwide congress is expected some time next year. The group also hopes to mobilize a grass roots effort to put pressure on the government to see that freedom is extended to all faiths.

Gupta is praying that God will protect believers from Hindu radicals who may oppose this effort.