Release International

Release partners and church leaders in Karnataka have protested about inflammatory remarks by a senior politician calling for Christianity to be 'weeded out' of the state.

Prahlad Remani, a senior legislator with the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), called publicly for 'followers of any religion' to stop the spread of Christianity.

The remarks, made at celebrations for India's Independence Day on August 15, drew sharp criticism from Release partners and senior church leaders, including the Archbishop of Bangalore and the Bishop of Belgaum, who raised their concerns with state officials. Karnataka's Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa reportedly told them later that he regretted Remani's comments.

The state of Karnataka has been a flashpoint for Christian persecution since the BJP came to power there in May 2008. The Global Council of Indian Christians reports that the number of 'anti-Christian incidents' in Karnataka since then now stands at 'more than 200'.

As recently as August 15, the very day Remani made his inflammatory speech, a church meeting in Mandya district was raided by about 30 Hindu militants.

When police arrived on the scene, they arrested two pastors working with Campus Crusade for Christ and ten other Christians and held them all for questioning. The ten were later released but the two pastors were detained on suspicion of 'proselytising', according to news agency AsiaNews.

(Sources: All India Christian Council, AsiaNews, Global Council of Indian Christians, The Hindu online).

• Pray that the church in Karnataka will remain steadfast in their faith amid persecution.
• Pray that moderates in government in Karnataka will resist attempts by Hindu extremists to discriminate against Christians.

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