Pakistan

Modi vows to protect all religious minorities

Modi's comments come after attacks on at least five churches in New Delhi

Afp February 17, 2015

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PHOTO: AFP

NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged firm action against perpetrators of religious attacks and warned against efforts to incite hatred of minorities on Tuesday after a series of attacks on churches.

"I condemn violence against any religion. We will act strongly against such violence," Modi said at a conference organised by Christian groups in the capital New Delhi.

"My government will not allow any group belonging to majority or minority to incite hatred against other communities," he said.

Modi, who has been heavily criticised for not speaking out earlier against religious violence, said everyone should be free to practice any faith in a country that is officially secular but has a mainly Hindu population.

"My government will ensure complete freedom of faith and the undeniable right to adopt a religion of choice," said the prime minister.

"Everyone has the undeniable right to retain or adopt the religion of his or her choice without coercion or undue influence," Modi added.

Modi's comments come after attacks on at least five churches in New Delhi since December. US President Barack Obama warned on a visit to New Delhi last month that India's future success was dependent on its managing to avoid splintering along religious lines.

Modi was for years shunned by Western countries after more than 1,000 people were killed in communal violence in Gujarat when he was the state's chief minister in 2002. Most of the victims were Muslims.

COMMENTS (8)

Bill | 9 years ago | Reply For many years, the Christian church I attend in the US has sent a group of doctors and church pastors to India to work with a local group there, in Dalit villages in Tamil Nadu. This year the group in India we work with asked us not to come - there's been too much violence against Christians, and they think it will be dangerous to them as well as to us. I'm skeptical about Modi's claims.

Burki | 9 years ago | Reply @Malatesh: I wouldn't expect anything intelligent from you other than continue to being in denail like rest of Indians. I have already posted facts & figures that shows the real face of India and Modi hence your opinion doesn't count for anything.

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Malatesh | 9 years ago | Reply @Burki: You are a brainwashed guy.. Its of no use even if I counter you on everything what you said. @ET, how can you publish hatemongers comment here?

Burki | 9 years ago | Reply @Rajesh: control your juices here. In your zeal to drag Pakistn in for no reason, you conveniently forgot to mention this butcher was the mastermind involved in butchering Muslim minorities in Gujraat. He's the worst hatemonger right there with Baal Thakery continually inciting racial violence in India. Your country has been in world news every other day for women getting rape everywhere, Chrisitian, Muslim, Daalit minorities being harrassed/killed by the hindu extremist pets of Modi's party. I know in India you guys are constantly fed on garbage propaganda that your school system and media churns out, so let me give you a dose of reality about India and this nutcase Modi: By your own government's admission, communcal violence against minorities in India is on the rise with 30% increase in 2013 compared to 2012 - 823 incidents of communal violence in 2013, in which 133 people died. In 2014, at least 560 cases of violence against religious minorities in which 110 people were killed. Looks like it's RSS dominated streets of India where minorities are regularly being butchered, yet you worry about minorities in Pakistan - classic case of living in denial.

Burki | 9 years ago | Reply Modi - the hindutva brainwashed extremist, the hate monger and mastermind of Gujraat massacre that killed more than 2000 Muslim minorities, vowing to protect minorities ... now that's rich!

katuaindian | 9 years ago | Reply So, there is no need for "Ghar wapsi" program........

Rakib | 9 years ago | Reply Some enhance the dignity of the high Chair; some let the Chair to enhance their dignity. Either way, PM's Chair is central & auspicious. It is perfectly fine even if Modi belongs to the latter group. What matters is he seems to exercise his right to do the right. It is hardly expected that a man never wrongs anybody ever. What matters is he makes amends.

Rajesh | 9 years ago | Reply Modi goverment has already constructed a mindbogling 38.8 lakhs (3.8 million) toilets in rural areas of India under the Swach Bharat scheme within these 8 months. By 2019 he targets providing toilets to 100% indians. When he was CM of gujrat, in 15 years he built 100,000 check dams converting millions of dry land into farm lands. He ensured no minority is killed for more than a decade after 2002, which pakistan could not do nor other states of India. Shias and ahmedis are killed in hundreds every month, forget about decade. Upto now even the opposition could not charge him with any corruption. He is a corruption free gem So next time when you publish news about him, dont keep repeating gujrat riots, tell his achievements too please. He is a phenomenon and a visionary. I am proud of my PM and in future pakistanis too will wish you had a PM like him.

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