In a deeply concerning trend, violence against Christians in India has dramatically increased in 2024, with the United Christian Forum (UCF) reporting 834 incidents of persecution, marking a sharp rise from 734 cases in the previous year.
The data reveals a stark reality of religious intolerance, with more than two Christians being targeted daily across the country. Uttar Pradesh led the incidents with 209 reported cases, followed by Chhattisgarh with 165.
The attacks have taken various forms, including:
- Destruction of churches and prayer meeting disruptions
- Harassment of believers
- Ostracisation and limited access to community resources
- False allegations and criminal cases, particularly involving fabricated conversion charges
Marginalised communities have been disproportionately targeted. Of the 73 incidents recorded in December 2024, 25 involved Scheduled Tribes, 14 involved Dalits, and 9 specifically targeted women.
The situation is particularly dire in regions like Arunachal Pradesh, where a dormant anti-conversion law from 1978 is set to be enforced in 2025. The legislation threatens pastors and evangelists with up to ten years in gaol for facilitating religious conversions.
In a significant development, over 400 senior Christian leaders and 30 church groups appealed to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 31 December 2024, urging them to address the escalating violence.
Prime Minister Modi’s response has been criticised as inadequate. During a Christmas event, he acknowledged violence against Christians globally but notably omitted mentioning domestic incidents. Journalist John Dayal described this as “duplicity” that “encourages belligerent Hindu fundamentalists”.
Opposition leaders have also voiced concerns. Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien challenged religious leaders to ask “tough questions” to Modi about the community’s challenges, including the weaponisation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
The rising persecution reflects a broader trend of increasing communal tensions, with the number of anti-Christian incidents sharply increasing since the BJP came to power in 2014.
As India approaches a critical juncture in its secular democratic journey, the mounting violence against Christians poses serious questions about religious freedom and minority rights in the world’s largest democracy.
