Bajrang Dal attacks praying Christian community in church, tears off Bible in Delhi
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New Delhi: Siyon Prarthna Bhawan in Delhi's Tahirpur area was the scene of an incident on Sunday where members of the Bajrang Dal allegedly entered the prayer hall while Christian community members were engaged in prayer.
The intruders shouted slogans promoting a Hindu nation and are also accused of assaulting the worshippers, making announcements on loudspeakers that the country is no longer secular, and physically attacking women. They reportedly tore up Bibles. This information is reported in a story by The Wire.
As community members attempted to file a police complaint, over 100 Hindutva activists reportedly gathered to prevent them from doing so.
The speakers played slogans such as "Hindu rashtra banayenge, Jai Shri Ram," which translates to "We will make a Hindu nation, hail Lord Ram."
The worshippers reported being assaulted with sticks by the individuals who entered, claiming to be from the Bajrang Dal. The incident left several people injured, including women. The intruders also allegedly tore up Bibles and damaged religious artifacts.
Later, some Christians attempted to file a complaint at the GTB Enclave police station regarding the disruption and assault. In response, a crowd consisting of more than 100 individuals affiliated with the Bajrang Dal, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad gathered outside the police station. These groups chanted slogans like 'Jai Shri Ram' both outside and inside the station.
A report from the United Christian Forum (UCF) noted a rise in attacks on Christians, with an increase in attacks on churches from 147 in 2014 to 599 last year. In 2023, the first 190 days alone recorded 400 attacks against Christians across 23 states.
These incidents have drawn attention to the Modi government's stance on minority rights and religious freedoms. With India set to host the G20 summit, such events raise questions about the government's commitment to democratic values and the protection of religious minorities.
At a separate gathering in Delhi's Jantar Mantar Road, Vishnu Gupta, president of the Hindu Sena, made controversial remarks about India's partition, suggesting that as long as Muslims reside in the country, the partition remains incomplete.