mdmathis6......... I would like to tell you that even I am an Indian. And incase you havent yet noticed already, there are quit a few Indians here at FR. You free to assume anything about but for my part I will tell you that I am just a 24 year old working professional from India and I lobby for no political party or government.
Gujarat a state bordering Pakistan and has been plagued with religious violence of late. Its not just the Christians who were attacked there but even Hindus and Muslims. In fact Christians actually got away with much less of violence when compared to Muslims and Hindus. Lets not forget a whole train load of Hindus were burnt (supposedly by a handful of Muslims) and thereafter in religious riots a lot of Muslims and Hindus were killed. A lot of Hindus were also killed in Gujarat when Hindu temples were attacked by Islamic terrorists. In contrast Christians were subjected to much less I would say.
While I condemn attack on anybody regardless of his/her religion. A few random attacks on Christians is not worthy of the comment that "Christians are suffring persecution in Gujarat".
I suppose your "fair and objective" western media havent yet told you anything about the genocide of Hindus in Kashmir. A number close to 500 000 have been rendered as refugees in what is supposedly there own country. This is what I would call "religious persecution" a few Christians being attacked by madmen is not exactly "persecution".
The persecution of Christians and attempts to suppress their religion are a matter of state policy and law in Gujarat. Notice however I am not naming the whole of India as guilty of this, but Gujarat is home to very nationalistic Hindu's who would like to make the whole of India an exclusive Hindu state. The recent elections that installed a Catholic woman head of state and a delicate balance of Communists and Rightists in the government is proof to me that the struggle that Ghandi suffered to create a truly tolerant democracy, tolerant of all religions is still very much alive.
unfortunatly our "fair and objective" media wouldnt say anything about a genocide of 500,000 christians either. I have been doing my best to follow the violence in India, however the american press all but refuses to print any information.