HINDU NATIONALISTS IMPLEMENT NETWORK TO SPY ON INDIAN CHRISTIANS
According to persecution ministry Voice of the Martyrs Korea representative Foley Hyun Sook, the Hindu nationalist movement, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has organized a nationwide network of people to report Christian activity.
“The RSS want to station radical Hindu nationalists in every one of India’s villages,”
Foley explains.
“This way, when officials see Christian activity or growth, they can strike it down quickly.”
Ever since Prime Minister Modi came into office in 2014, persecution of religious minorities in India has increased. In its 2019 report, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said this about India:
“Over the last decade, conditions for religious minorities in India have deteriorated. A multifaceted campaign by Hindu nationalist groups like Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sang (RSS), Sangh Parivar, and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) to alienate non-Hindus or lower-caste Hindus is a significant contributor to the rise of religious violence and persecution. Those targeted by this campaign—including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and lower-caste Hindus—face challenges ranging from acts of violence or intimidation to the loss of political power, increasing feelings of disenfranchisement, and limits on access to education, housing, and employment.”
Indian Christians prepare to distribute Bibles to other believers.
Voice of the Martyrs recently visited Indian church leaders to discuss the situation. According to these church leaders,
“The RSS has gained more authority under Prime Minister Modi. They are strategically placing sympathizers in government and legal offices all over the country.”
Indian Christian speaks with others about the gospel.
Because of this strategy, the RSS faced little resistance when implementing their reporting system. Under this system, RSS members can search every village in India for Christian presence and work to actively eliminate it.
“Indian Christians are concerned about the direction their government is headed,”
representative Foley says.
“But they are reporting that God is still at work and their churches are growing. In spite of this Hindu nationalist movement, in spite of the power that Prime Minister Modi and his government have, the church is growing. When you look at the situation and see the opposition, it would be very easy for Christians to hide, but many have asked us to pray that they stay encouraged and boldly witness for Christ. We also need to pray for the people who persecute them.”
Individuals or churches interested in helping persecuted Christians around the world can visit www.vomkorea.com/donate or give via electronic transfer to
- 한국 VOM 웹사이트: vomkorea.com/donate
- 후원계좌: 국민은행 463501-01-243303, 예금주: (사)순교자의소리