Christians In India

EDM number 59 in 1999-00, proposed by Andrew Rowe on 18/11/1999.

That this House is very concerned to hear that Gujarat State, India, has introduced a bill purporting to promote freedom of religion but which in reality may prohibit conversion and restrict the humanitarian work carried out by Christian NGOs largely amongst the dalits; notes with alarm that although there have been over 150 acts of violence against Christians in the last 18 months there has not been one conviction and that the murderer of Graham Staines and his two sons is still at large some nine months after the event; further notes that this has created a culture of impunity in which further acts of violence are likely; expresses sympathy for the family of Father Arul Doss, murdered on 1st September; and urges the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, to ensure that his Government abides by his oath to protect the constitution, upholding freedom of religion and uplifting the victims of caste oppression.

This motion has been signed by a total of 59 MPs, 2 of these signatures have been withdrawn.