Around two thousand Christians from more than 200 denominations gathered at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on 29th November to demand government action over what organisers described as rapidly escalating "hostility" towards believers.
The day-long National Christian Convention, organised by groups including the All Indian Catholic Union and the United Christian Forum, drew attention to long-delayed legal reforms and growing concerns about violence, discrimination and anti-conversion laws.
Speakers said attacks on Christians had risen by “500 per cent” between 2014 and 2024, with “834 cases recorded in 2024 alone”, including church vandalism and assaults on pastors.
Mervyn Thomas, founder president of Christian Solidarity Worldwide(CSW), said they “stood in solidarity with India’s Christian community” and urged the government to uphold constitutional protections for freedom of religion.
Testimonies from vulnerable regions detailed incidents triggered by unverified allegations of forced conversions, with fewer than 20 per cent of cases receiving a First Information Report.
Legal experts at the convention said this failure emboldened non-state actors and fuelled a climate of impunity. Speakers also highlighted the ongoing impact of the Presidential Order of 1950, which denies Scheduled Caste status to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims, trapping millions in generational poverty by limiting access to education, employment and land rights.
Delegates from tribal communities warned of mounting pressure in mineral-rich states, including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha, where tribal Christians risk being removed from the Schedule Tribe list, losing vital protections and benefits.
The convention concluded with a decision to draft a national manifesto calling for protection for Christians, equality for Dalits and justice for persecuted communities.
Organisers said it would be submitted to senior government leaders.