“India is huge in terms of both its area and population, and therefore some may underestimate its intensity,” she said. “But the fact is that Christians particularly in seven states – namely Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Orissa, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh – are facing the brunt of Hindu extremism.”

The total population in these seven states is more than 354 million people, of which 4 million are Christian.

“Even within these states, certain pockets can be identified as the most sensitive ones,” she said.

Hindus account for more than 80 percent of India’s population, but it is not the common Hindu who becomes violent.

“It is a small minority, namely Hindu extremists, which manages to launch attacks with impunity tacitly extended by some state governments,” she said. “It is against this backdrop that Christian persecution in India should be seen.”

Expanding Persecution

Christians in India are also worried about persecution emerging in southern states, particularly Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, which had been relatively peaceful till recently.

The state department’s report notes that 20 acts of anti-Christian violence were reported in Andhra Pradesh, compared with seven incidents in the previous year.

Christian persecution grew in Andhra Pradesh after the Congress Party government led by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, a Christian, came into power in May 2004. Accusing the chief minister of allowing missionaries to lure Hindus to Christianity, Hindu extremists increasingly began to attack Christians.

The state department document says there were at least 40 reported anti-Christian attacks in Karnataka, a considerable increase from the six incidents during the previous reporting period. The incidence of anti-Christian attacks has increased in the state since the Janata Dal-Secular party, in coalition with the BJP, took power from the Congress Party in February 2006.

States’ Role in Curbing Freedom

The report on India criticizes “anti-conversion” laws enacted or amended by some state governments, asserting that Congress Party officials in Himachal Pradesh state passed an anti-conversion law that, “similar to other laws of its kind, restricts and regulates religious proselytism.”

Citing religious press outlets, the report notes, “there were four reports of acts of violence against Christians following the passage of an anti-conversion law in Himachal Pradesh in late December 2006. There were no reports during the previous reporting period.”

Anti-conversion laws are in force in three states, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Orissa. Such laws in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh remain on paper, awaiting implementation.

“Public hysteria aside,” Dr. Sajan K. George, national president of the Global Council of Indian Christians, told Compass, “it has to be remembered that the real threat to democracy in India today comes from anti-democratic laws and regulations curbing the rights of Christians.”