Dawn: NEW DELHI: India’s Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday pledged a crackdown against religious violence and promised to ensure freedom of worship for all faiths after a series of attacks on churches.
Modi has been heavily criticised for not speaking out earlier against religious violence, especially in the wake of the attacks on at least five churches in the capital New Delhi since December.
But in a speech at a conference organised by Christian groups, Modi condemned religiously motivated violence and promised that his government had equal respect for all faiths in a country that is officially secular.
“I condemn violence against any religion. We will act strongly against such violence,” Modi said at the capital. “My government will not allow any group belonging to majority or minority to incite hatred against other communities,” he added.
Modi has also faced flak for remaining silent over a recent spate of mass “re-conversions” of Muslims to Hinduism, and in his speech, the prime minister said everyone should be free to practice any faith.
Categories: Asia, Belief, Catholicism, India