“The Manipur government is displaying the height of insanity,” expressed a Christian pastor from Manipur operating a theological college outside the state in a conversation with CNA.
John Dayal, a vocal Catholic columnist and activist, shared his perspective on the situation in Manipur, stating, “What is happening in Manipur is nothing new.”
Dayal highlighted the attempts made by BJP governments at both the national and state levels to undermine Christian holy days such as Christmas, Good Friday, and Easter in the past. He recalled his successful legal action in 2002 at the Delhi High Court against the proposal to designate Good Friday and Easter Sunday as ‘working days’ during Atal Behari Vajpayee’s tenure as the BJP prime minister.
Describing the current scenario in Manipur, Dayal remarked, “This Manipur move is in line with Modi’s consistent agenda to erode the rights of Christianity and Islam in the new ‘Bharat’.” (Bharat being the proposed new name for India by the Hindu nationalist BJP).
The ongoing violent clash in Manipur since May 2023 between the majority Hindu Meiteis and the minority Christian Kukis has resulted in more than 230 deaths as per official figures. Additionally, over 50,000 Kuki Christians and 10,000 Meiteis have been displaced from their respective strongholds in the Imphal valley.
Amidst the turmoil, more than 600 churches have been destroyed, predominantly Kuki churches, but also including 250 Meiti Christian churches. This destruction is perceived as an effort to deter Meiteis from adopting the Christian faith.
In a positive development for the Christian community, Carmelite Sister Mercy, who was arrested on charges of “abetting the suicide” of a sixth-grade girl at Carmel School in Ambikapur, Chattisgarh, was granted bail by the trial court on March 28.
The incident leading to the arrest involved the suicide of a girl student at home following questioning by the nun regarding her prolonged presence with two other girls in the bathroom. Subsequently, after receiving complaints from other students, the nun requested the girls to bring their parents to school the following day.
Following the girl’s tragic death, Hindu nationalist groups mobilized a large crowd to march to the school. On February 8, a mob of angry students tried to storm the school, but the nun was quickly apprehended by the police the following morning, preventing what could have been an arson assault.
Anto Akkara, a journalist based in Bangalore, India, contributes regularly to the National Catholic Register, focusing on international reporting. Akkara is also known for his books and documentaries documenting the stories of the martyrs of Kandhamal and has been honored with the St. Titus Brandsma Award for journalism.