Nirmala Carvalho

Fr. Cedric Prakash comments on the latest report of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which analyzes the situation of the Indian state. The anti-conversion law in Gujarat imposes the civil authorities permission to change religion. For years, the U.S. deny head of the government a visa, for his role in the massacres of 2002.

Phulbani Fast Track Court judge closes his court and assigns the case to a sessions court. It may take another year to conclude trial. The seven are charged with the murder of a Hindu leader, who launched the anti-Christian pogroms of 2008. The Maoists have always claimed responsibility for the assassination.

Sajan George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), talks about anti-Christian attacks perpetrated by Hindu nationalists. Under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Government of Karnataka supports extremist groups. Statewide elections are scheduled for this Sunday.

The Indian state goes to the polls 5 May. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wants to be re-elected by getting the minority vote. Fr George Kannanthanam, director of a Catholic centre dedicated to the rehabilitation of lepers, talks about the party's phoney help to the weakest sections of society, about money it promised but never allocated as well as the facilities it shut down.

Police uncovers the first case of child trafficking via social media. The baby's grandfather wanted to sell the baby to negotiate a second marriage for his daughter. The baby's "buyer", a New Delhi businessman, was also arrested.

Statistics revealed in a report by the Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR). The main victims are girls, mostly assaulted in state-run orphanages and institutions. Card. Gracias, president of the Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), tells AsiaNews: "The protection of children is at the heart of the education, social and health care ministry of the Catholic Church in India."

The little girl was abused and tortured for two days. Two suspects have been arrested for sexual assault. For member of the Pontifical Academy of Life, violence is done against "Indian girls and women in insidious as well as blatant ways, in every sphere of their life," through female feticide, dowry murders and discrimination.

At least 13 injured, two of them seriously. The bomb was under a police motorcycle parked outside the offices of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The archbishop of Mumbai is one of the cardinals chosen by the Pope to help in the governance of the universal Church and to study the revision of the Roman Curia. He speaks to AsiaNews about his contribution to this new mission. The experience of the Church in Asia, a land "rich in ancient cultures, languages and religions, a victim of poverty, injustice, marginalization and pollution", but also "home to a deep sense of the sacred and the family."

Fr Errol Fernandes SJ, professor of theology at a seminary in Mumbai, spoke about the Holy Father's speech to the members of the Pontifical Biblical Commission. For him it is important to rediscover the Holy Scriptures and its message of love, justice and peace, which is valid for people of all faiths.

A Muslim mob attacked two men, five women and two children, all of English origin. The police prevented the destruction of their house, but have arrested two Christians. Leader of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC): "The growing anti-Christian intolerance is alarming."

Two young faithful were able to extinguish the flames, avoiding tragedy. Leaders of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC): "Hindu Nationalist groups foment anti-Christian hatred. The construction of new places of worship also at risk".