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Hindu nationalist confidence grows. Christians called to pray

When the Hindu nationalist BJP ruled India from February 1998 to May 2004, persecution of Christians was systematic and severe, reports Elizabeth Kendal, World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission. Whilst the BJP was humiliated by their 2004 election loss, they eventually emerged in 2006 with a vengeance and a strategy to regain power. Their focus is to convert India's animist tribal masses to Hinduism and so convert them politically to vote BJP. To motivate the tribals to convert, the Hindu nationalists tell them that India's security is under threat from foreign forces and that Christians are agents of the CIA out to subvert and divide India. India's only hope (so they say) is to have the tribals join the Hindu 'mainstream' and fight. Hindu nationalists have been advancing this strategy unchallenged for over two years now. Persecution has escalated and the BJP's confidence is growing.

[07/10/2008]

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