The Hindu nationalist government in northern India’s Manipur on Wednesday issued a decree declaring Easter Sunday as a working day, sparking widespread outrage and forcing authorities to rescind the order the next day.
Manipur is home to dozens of indigenous tribes, many of which are Christian-majority, but the largest tribe, the Hindu-majority Maitei tribe, has been declared a “scheduled area” by the government. Since the petition was filed in May, there has been a wave of anti-Christian violence. tribe. ” This designation is intended to support disadvantaged and minority communities.
Manipur’s small, mostly Christian tribes opposed the Meiteis, the state’s largest and wealthiest tribe, for scheduled tribe status, organizing massive peaceful protests against the designation. . The protests sparked massive riots by Hindu mobsters who burned down entire Christian communities and hundreds of churches, leaving tens of thousands of people homeless.
On May 8, 2023, an Indian Army soldier (R) stands with villagers in front of a church that was torched and looted by a mob in the ethnically violent area of Heirokurian village in Senapati district, Manipur state, India. About 23,000 people have been evacuated from last week’s violence in the northeastern hill region that borders Myanmar. Recent clashes have erupted between the Hindu-majority Meitei tribe, who live in and around Manipur’s capital Imphal, and the predominantly Christian hill-country Kuki tribe. (ARUN SANKAR/AFP via Getty Images )
The most prominent Christian tribe in the region is the Kuki Zo, who complained that the Meitei attackers were backed by the local government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Witnesses said police sided with the rioters during the riot, even standing by in vain as some assailants gang-raped Christian women and paraded them naked in broad daylight.
On Monday, May 29, in New Delhi, India, a Kuki woman breaks down in tears as she recounts her ordeal of fleeing during a sit-in protest against the killings of her people in her home state of Manipur in the northeast, where her village was burnt down. 2023 (Manish Swarup/AP).
David Currie, president of the aid group Global Christian Relief, told Breitbart News in May that “police and local law enforcement are not protecting Christian churches and are in some ways aiding and abetting the mob. ” he said. “The bigger systemic question, then, is why would central government allow something like this to happen? Why would local government and police allow and encourage these attacks on churches and Christians? Is not it?”
Curry noted that many of the rioters were uploading videos to social media showing them participating in anti-Christian violence, adding, “They’re posting videos to church on social media because they have no repercussions. I’m not even afraid to post or call out attacks on others.”
about 40 percent Christians make up the majority of Manipur’s population.
Although the violence that plagued 2023 has partially subsided, targeted attacks are occurring as of this week. destroyed There are 600 churches in Manipur. left 50,000 people are homeless, surviving in poorly managed government-run camps. Prime Minister Modi has largely avoided conflict and claimed in August that “extended peace” had returned to the state.
A worker sprays water to cool burnt items at the residence of Union External Affairs Minister RK Ranjan Singh as ethnic violence continues in India’s northeastern state of Manipur on June 16, 2023. (Photo by Anuwar Hazarika) / Noor Photo).
Against this backdrop of persecution of Christians, the Bharatiya Janata Party-run local government announced on Wednesday that Christians must work on Easter Sunday, the holiest day in the Christian calendar when believers celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. announced.declaration said Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday are the days of “all government institutions, including public sector undertakings, autonomous bodies and societies under state governments,” to enable “smooth functioning of public offices during the last few days of the financial year.” It is said that it will be a “working day.”
Christians reacted with disgust and anger, accusing the government of deliberately trying to prevent Christians from observing the holiday.
“The height of madness in the Manipur government” An anonymous pastor Said Christian news agency CNA.
“The decision to declare these holy days as normal working days is not only insensitive but also disrespectful to the religious sentiments of a significant section of Manipur’s population,” Manipur’s Senapati District Catholic Union said on Thursday. declared.
The statement continued: “By forcing government agencies to operate on holy days, this order not only ignores the religious rights of Christian communities, but also violates the cultural diversity that should be supported and respected in a democratic society.” and does not recognize religious pluralism.” ”
The national coordinator of the United Christian Forum (UCF), a Christian organization in India, said: Said Indian newspapers are hinduism Work schedules would have essentially made it impossible for Christians in the state to fulfill their religious obligations.
“The majority of Christians in Manipur are Baptists and Presbyterians. For Baptists, Easter services often last until late afternoon,” coordinator AC Michael was quoted as saying. “It will be very difficult for them to leave the church and leave.”
The next day, the Manipur state government announced “partial amendments” to the ordinance, saying Christians should work on Holy Saturday but not on Easter Sunday.
“The Governor of Manipur has made some amendments to the government order dated March 27th, making March 30th the only working day for all government agencies including public sector/corporates/autonomous bodies/society under the state government. We are pleased to declare that read.
The BJP also condemned India’s main opposition party, the Indian National Congress (INC, or Congress), for expressing concern about religious persecution in the state. Shashi Tharoor, a local lawmaker, said the initial order was “surprising and alarming” given the continued persecution of Christians in the state over the past year. In response, regional Bharatiya Janata Party leaders claimed MPs who have criticized the decision to declare Easter a Labor Day are “spreading falsehoods”, he claimed.
UCF board member Michael said the initial declaration was an attempt to “test the waters.”
“They saw the protests and withdrew it. But the important thing is, will they dare to ask Hindus the same about Diwali?” he asked.
UCF published The report released last week on oppression and violence against Christians across the United States in 2024 found “massive erosion of fundamental fundamental rights and protections for Christians in India.”
“January saw 70 incidents of violence against Christians, followed by 62 incidents in 29 days in February 2024 and 29 incidents in 15 days in March,” the report said in part. , citing “incidents” such as a mob attack on a church and false claims. Christians who engage in “forced conversion,” denying Christians basic rights and government benefits, and other acts of violence and harassment.
“There are a total of 19 states in India where Christians are at risk for their lives for practicing their faith. In just 75 days in 2024, 122 Christians have been detained or arrested on false claims of conversion. ” the report concluded. “As UCF, we call on our leaders to take strict action against the perpetrators of all such crimes and put an end to this violence, and we hope that peaceful and fair elections will be held. I am praying.”
