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Christians plan peaceful action against attacks in AP

Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad

Perturbed by the series of attacks on churches in five towns in the state over three weeks, Christian leaders say the incidents are the handiwork of vested interests involved in similar attacks in other states.

The blasts at two churches in the coastal towns of Ongole and Tadepalligudem Thursday rattled the community. On May 21, a bomb went off when Christians congregated at Machilipatnam in coastal Andhra Pradesh, injuring 12 people, mostly women and children. On May 28, two improvised explosive devices were discovered in two churches in Medak and Vikarabad in Telaganana.

"The community is deeply hurt. These incidents are the handiwork of a particular section of a community, which has been targeting Christians and their churches for quite some time," said Solomon, chairman, YMCA, Tarnaka.

"We feel very sorry. We are a sober and peace-loving community," Solomon said. He said it was an open truth that the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other organisations associated with the Sangh Parivar had a sinister agenda of targeting Christians.

"These groups pursue their own agenda. They have taken up a campaign for 'reconversions'. They have targeted other minorities before, now it is the turn of Christians," he said.

Echoing his sentiments, Christian rights activist and former legislator Christine Lazarus, said: "It has happened again. Churches have been targeted despite Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's assurance that the government would take all steps to prevent such attacks. We just cannot depend on the chief minister's promises; we have to take necessary action to protect ourselves."

According to Lazarus, various Christian organisations, churches, denominational groups, non-governmental organisations, Christian leaders and clergy have decided to meet in the city to chalk out their future course of action. "I called up several people of the community. I told them that if you keep quiet, the situation will not improve. If you wait, it will be waiting in vain. Better stir ourselves up. That is also the Biblical command that if the people do not stir themselves up, they will face persecution," she said.

"It is going to be a non-violent programme since we are a peace-loving community. We will chalk out a programme to focus attention on the need to stop the attacks. We are also inviting friends from Muslim and other minority groups, besides political parties and non-government organisations to join this crusade against violence," Lazarus said.

Reverend Gollapalle Samuel, pastor, Baptist Church (Hyderabad) and state unit president of All India Christian Council, condemned the attacks and exhorted the community not to get intimidated by such atrocities. The council has despatched fact-finding teams to Ongole and Tadepalligudem.

National Congress of Indian Christians youth wing member C A Danial said Naidu and the state Criminal Investigation Department, which probed previous incidents, had failed to check the blasts. He demanded state Home Minister T Devender Goud's resignation for his failure to curb such incidents.

All India United Christian Movement for Equal Rights national secretary James Sylvester termed the attacks as "pre-planned" and said they were the handiwork of a particular group working against Christians.

There are an estimated five-seven million Christians in Andhra Pradesh. Some Christian organisations put the figure at 14 to 15 per cent of the population of 75 million. "The census figure is just around four per cent but our population is higher. Many persons do not show themselves as Christians and adopt Hindu names since they enjoy benefits as scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and backward classes," a Christian activist pointed out.

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