The Archbishop of Vasai asked to let the law take its course after the arrest of a local official accused of assaulting some Christians. Members of a Hindu nationalist organization protested in front of the police station demanding his release.
Chennai (AsiaNews) – “India’s multireligious and multicultural character and the country’s spirituality must be supported to defend life, promote peace among peoples and take care of creation, our common home. The freedom for which our ancestors fought should be on the agenda for everyone, especially to protect the weakest ”. These are the words of Msgr. Felix Machado, archbishop of Vasai and general secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India after a news case involving some Christian faithful and members of Munnani Hindu, a Hindu nationalist organization based in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.
On 7 August, after the arrest of a local official named Uthman who allegedly attacked a Christian preacher and two faithful, some Hindu extremists protested outside the police station. The militants accused the agents of supporting the religious conversion activities of the three Christians.
According to an initial reconstruction, Uthman allegedly attacked the preacher Spendi Labersan and two of his friends who had come to the city to visit a relative in Golden Nagar, near Nanjundapuram. Munnani Hindu members claim that Uthman simply questioned Labersan while he was preaching in a public place in favor of religious conversion. Labersan in his complaint says he was blocked, threatened and finally attacked.
“It is a matter of judicial law, if someone disagrees with the beliefs or actions of another, he is free to take legal action,” Archbishop Machado explained to AsiaNews. “The police made the arrests as part of their legal duties and procedures, so we have to let the law take its course.”
“Religious freedom is enshrined in the preamble of the Constitution, practicing and propagating the faith is a right, and if this has been violated, the law can be applied and the courts can decide,” added the prelate. “There are restrictions on preaching, it is not a free field. We must also respect the freedoms of others, but no one can prevent us from keeping the spirit of the preamble ”.
“Our religious traditions are different. But our differences are not the cause of conflicts and disputes, nor of prejudices “, continued the archbishop, recalling that next week the country will celebrate the 75th anniversary of independence:” 75 years is a period of time to acquire maturity and wisdom as a nation ”.
“We have inherited a great heritage, Mahatma Gandhi was an exceptional and courageous witness of truth, love and non-violence”, continued Msgr. Machado.
“My hope is that every kind of parochialism and restriction towards people be avoided and that we go beyond the narrow horizon of our interests to open up to a true and sincere confrontation committed to the protection of fundamental rights everywhere and by everyone , remaining faithful to the Indian Constitution at all times, and that all be accepted as brothers or sisters “.
Tamil Nadu, Christians attacked: Msgr. Machado calls for respect for religious freedom