Sajan George, the president of advocacy group Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), said that "Karnataka State agencies are entering" Christian schools to "probe links of human rights groups with ‘Naxalites’", a term used to describe radical, and often violent, revolutionary Communist groups.
In one of the latest "very controversial" incidents, "intelligence agents came to the famous St. Joseph’s College in [the city of] Bangalore, among others, last Sunday," September 2.
"They hung around the college premises for more than four long hours [and] were keen to know how the "Karnataka communal harmony" group made an entry into St. Joseph’s College premises," George said in a statement from Bangalore. However, the group just consists "of several activists, academicians and others who meet in various parts of the state," he added.
MAJOR COLLEGES
George denied Karnataka’s Christian educational institutions support Naxalites, who have been described as "terrorists" by authorities in several Indian. "The major colleges in the state capital – as is the practice in most metropolitan cities — routinely provide space for all progressive groups."
He suggested that the government-backed crackdown seemed more directed against Christian education in Karnataka, at a time when authorities "fail to curb anti-Christian terrorism."
George said, "We are deeply disturbed at recent developments in the state of Karnataka, once known for its secular character, peace and cosmopolitan ambience. The state has seen a [rise] in activities against the minority Christians," including violent attacks.
He said the GCIC recently met the National Human Rights Commission and the Union Home Minister to discuss the tensions. "It is understood that [Karnataka’s] coalition government has been monitoring all Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the district of Hassan. Activists have been complaining that [freedom of expression] is becoming limited in the State."
CIVIL GROUPS
He said that the GCIC "strongly protests" this and "calls upon civil society groups to take the matter up with the authorities in the state capital of Bangalore," authorities of other states and India’s national government.
The latest reported incidents came amid concern among human rights groups about what they see as attempts by especially Hindu militants and Hindu-led local and state governments to target the spread of Christianity and Christian institutions, including schools and churches.
Christians comprise just over two percent of India’s mainly Hindu population of over 1.1 billion people, according to estimates. (With BosNewsLife Research and reporting from India).
