Criminalizing the Practise of Faith - A report by PUCL Karnataka on Hate Crimes against Christians in Karnataka
The targeting of the Christian community is not a new phenomenon. When we look back, in 2008
while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was in power, there were attacks on several churches in
different parts of Karnataka, such as Chikkamagaluru, Udupi, Mangalore, and Dakshina Kannada.
Similar patterns can be observed under the rule of BJP in 2021. Even during 2008, the Hindutva mob
had a similar narrative that Christians were purportedly engaged in converting Hindus. Though the
national and Karnataka state trends show continuous decline in the population of Christians in the
last 5 decades, the myth that Christians are engaged in conversion activities is constantly propagated.
In 2021 too, targeted attacks took place under the false garb of conversion. These attacks on
Christians during prayer meetings in rural parts of Karnataka have become far more prevalent and
violent this year.
The point this report seeks to make is that the myth of conversion remains a bogey which is used to
target the constitutional right to practice, profess and propagate religion as recognized under Article
25. What emerges in shocking detail is that in today’s Karnataka, using the language of ‘conversion’,
Christians’ constitutional right to practice and profess their religion is being curtailed. Even with
respect to conversion it should be noted that the right to choose remains a core part of one’s
fundamental right to freedom of religion, expression and dignity and ought not be curtailed under
the Indian Constitutional framework.
Related Issue
Rights of Minorities, Hate Crimes and Intolerance, Religious intolerance, Communal Violence
Tags
Hate Crimes against Christians