Nearly 400 Christian leaders and 30 church groups have written a letter to Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling for urgent action to address the rising violence and systemic challenges that India’s Christian community is facing.

In a letter dated Dec. 31, 2024, these leaders and groups cited data saying that the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) recorded more than 720 incidents targeting Christians until mid-December last year, while the United Christian Forum (UCF) recorded 760 incidents until the end of November 2024.

More than 14 attacks against Christian gatherings were also reported during the 2024 Christmas season. Indian Christians are estimated to make up 2.3% of the total population.

The letter states that rising hate speech, especially from elected officials, has emboldened acts of violence against Christians. Mobs disrupt peaceful Christian gatherings and threaten carol singers with impunity.

The signatories have called on the president and the prime minister for a swift investigation into attacks on minorities and regular dialogue between the government and faith communities.

“It saddens us deeply that almost all political leaders … in the Union government and the regional states have chosen not to condemn them (acts targeting Christians),” the letter stated.

Highlighting the continuing ethnic violence in the Northeastern state of Manipur in the past 20 months, the letter says it has claimed at least 250 lives, displaced thousands, and led to the destruction of more than 360 churches.

The letter also addressed systemic challenges, including the “exclusion of Dalit Christians from Scheduled Caste (SC) reservation status and the misuse of anti-conversion laws.”

Harassment of the clergy, arrests without bail, and the revival of restrictive laws in many states like Uttar Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh are also stated concerns.

“Inclusivity isn’t just a moral imperative — it’s an economic necessity,” noted the letter, urging the government to uphold constitutional guarantees and ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all citizens of India.

Signatories to the letter include prominent Christian leaders from different church denominations and organizations such as Thomas Abraham, David Onesimu, Joab Lohara, Richard Howell, Mary Scaria, Cedric Prakash S.J., John Dayal, Prakash Louis S.J., Zelhou Keyho, E.H. Kharkongor, Allen Brooks, K. Losii Mao, Akhilesh Edgar, Michael Willams, A.C. Michael, and Vijayesh Lal.

According to reports, one of the biggest factors behind attacks on Christians throughout the years has been Hindu nationalists’ claim that Christians have tried to convert poor Hindus to their religion by offering them money and rice bags — a claim that Christians have denied.

Meanwhile, members of the Dalit community have also historically been known to convert to Christianity to escape Hinduism’s repressive caste system.