Senior academics, activists, student and youth leaders and clergy across
denominations and across states have called upon the Christian community,
and specially its youth and students, to come together, and also work with
civil society to ensure an India safe for Dalits, Tribals, minorities, and
the poor – vulnerable women and children among them.
Almost 100 women and men today issued a “Solidarity Statement” seeking a
Christian response on issues that face the people post-Covid , including
threats to livelihood leading to starvation cum death, public Medicare,
education, and targeted hate and violence against religious minorities.
There is fear that the Constitution may be tampered with to seriously erode
safeguards fundamental rights, secularism, cultural diversity and freedom
of religion and belief.
The Solidarity Statement signatories under the name *Indian Christians for
Democracy *include AC Michael, Virginia Saldanha, Virginius Xaxa, David
Selvaraj, Walter Fernandes, Verghese Thekkenath, Roweena Robinson, Alwyn
D Silva, Dorothy Fernandes, John Dayal, Cedric Prakash, Anastasia Gill,
Sebastian Kallupura, Aasha Ramesh, Tony Dias, Vijayan, Joe Athialy, Anil
and Prakash Louis.
The following is the text of the statement:
*Indian Christians for Democracy *
*Solidarity Statement*
As Indian Christians we have always and continue to uphold the
Constitutional Values of our country, as a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular,
Democratic and Republic. We believe in,and practice, the Principles of
Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, enshrined in the Constitution.
Christians as individuals and their institutionshave been in the forefront
in times of disasters and natural calamities.
As the Corona Virus struck India, the Christian community and its
institutions collaborated with the local administration, people’s groups,
NGOs, and civil society in extending relief to the affected masses. They
alsowere at the service of the migrant labourers returning home, providing
food, water, shelter, space for quarantine. Many front-line volunteers
risked their lives to stand in solidarity with the people.
As citizens of this country, we are troubled by thelack of empathy for the
millions rendered jobless, many returning to villages they had left to find
work in towns and cities to feed their hungry families. Government schemes
do not always reach the poorest of the poor, hence we are concerned that a
vast segment of the excluded, marginalized are made dependent, what would
be their plight in this pandemic?
We are also aware of the fact that, the Dalits, Adivasis, Most Backward
Castes, Poor and single mothersare the worst affected by the consequences
of the pandemic, and the continuing lockdown. We know many of the
vulnerable and high-risk persons and families are on the verge of
starvation, some close to death.
The governmentsays it is converting the crisis into an opportunity. The
opportunity seems to benefit the same people from the skewed, unequal and
exclusionary Indian socio-political, economic and cultural order, while the
poor, the working class, women, rural masses, migrants contribute their
lives and sweat to uphold the edifice of the country for the benefit of the
privileged.
The number of citizens affected by the virus continues to grow by the day.
Tens of thousands have already lost their lives. Medical and health care
facilities are inadequate.
Adding to the crisis are floods in several regions of Biharand North East,
which also faced the fury of a cyclone.
This seems an odd time for governments at the Centre and some of the states
to be involved in religious functions such as theBhumi Pujan at Ayodhya.
On the other hand, we are greatly concerned that the emergency Covid-19 has
created has been taken as an opportune moment to exacerbate cultural
policing and mob lynching by self-styled protectors of the cow. The
State’s silencing of political dissent and even mild criticism of the
regime on social media is deeply disturbing. Scores of students are being
detained, refused bail, or targeted for their political opinion. Important
laws with serious consequences for the environment, health and education
have been pushed through without public interface.
In this situation, as Indian Christians,
1) We join with fellow citizens to uphold the values of the Indian
Constitution.
2)We call upon government to provide food with dignity, and livelihood
options to the poor, the vulnerable and high-risk persons and families.
3)We seek health care facilities for these people, both for existing
ailments as also for Covid-19 related vulnerabilities.
4) We call for an immediate end to intimidation and arrest on false and
unverified charges.
5) We encourage peaceful co-existence of all the citizens irrespective of
caste, class, gender, religion,geography and orientations.
6) We call for ending all forms ofexploitation, oppression, exclusion and
marginalization at this time of crisis.
7) We demand strict implementation of existing laws to deal with and
prevent violence to women which is increasing with impunity.
8) We call upon the central and state governments and the corporate sector
to generate employment and empower students and youth,so they become
sentient and involved citizens of ourgreat country.
9)We stand in solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir for their
Constitutional rights.
10) And in particular, we call upon the religious, social, academic and
institutional leaders of our own community, and as well as our youth and
students, to join civil society in the common struggle to achieve these
goals.
This statement emanates from interactions and two large web-based national
consultations in July 2020.
*Jai Hind Satyameva Jayate
Jai Bharat *
*In Solidarity, and prayer*
Virginia Saldanha John Dayal
Rowena Robinson
A.C. Michael VirginusXaxa David
Selvaraj
InbarajJeyakumar Antony Dias Vijayan
M J
Joe Athialy Anand Mathew Anil
Varghese
Goldie M. George M.K. George William
Stanley
Chandra Mohan Dorothy Fernandes Cedric Prakash
Antony Arulraj K.P.Sasi
Gracy Fernandes
Joe Xavier Walter Fernandes
Aasha Ramesh
Ajaya Singh Vincent
Manoharan A.X.J. Bosco
Paul Thelakath Sebastian Kallupura John Kumar
Allwyn D Silva Subhash Jose Paul
D’Souza
Joseph Mattam Alex Ekka
Valerian Mendonca
Francis Guntipilly Varghese Theckanath
Anastasia Gill
Nikhilesh John Benston Johnson
Vincentia Mammoottil
Denzil Fernandes Astrid Lobo Philip
Vinod Peacock
Rudi Heredia Mathew Kayani Leo
Saldanha
Brian Pereira Pamela Fernandes Angelo
Menezes
Frazer Mascarenhas John Almeida Prisca Dias
Arvind Peter Alex Tuscano
Robert Jeyaraj
Roger Samuel V.S. Roy David Judith
Anne
Yesumarian P. B. M.
Basaiawmoit
Joy James
S. Emmanuel Clifton D Rozario Sujata
Jena
Francis Rosario Manju Kulapuram
Nithiyasagayam
Sujita
Jayaseelan Vincent Ekka
Benny Chiramal Devasagayam Prakash
Louis
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