Nirmala Carvalho

38-year-old Pranjal Bhuyan had simply prayed for some of his villagers. Introduced by the local government of the BJP nationalists to ‘protect health’ it is in fact a new tool to target Christians. The man hit by the measure had already come under fire on charges of ‘conversions’ for some free lessons he offered at home to children.

In the State of Nagaland, at the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians recently recognised by the Indian federal government as a national pilgrimage centre, an initiative to praise God through the beauty of creation. Bishop Thoppil: ‘We no longer use plastic flowers in our churches. Now with the commitment of women in the cultivation of fresh flowers this message is reaching everyone'.

A native of the same Indian metropolis, 57 year-old Msgr. John Rodrigues has led the diocese of Pune since last year after serving for ten years as auxiliary bishop to Card. Oswald Gracias, who will turn eighty on 20 December next. As of 25 January, he will be at his side with right of succession. He comes from a family in which the widowed mother accompanied all three of her sons to the priesthood.

Local councils forced about a hundred Christians to leave or renounce their faith. The police did not intervene immediately and at least 40 people were forced to take refuge in churches after their property was destroyed. According to some oraganizations, there has been an increase in violence against the Christian community in this Indian State this year.

The solemn event is repeated every ten years, attracting thousands of pilgrims who pray before the remains of the great evangeliser of Asia. "We are Messengers of the Good News" is the theme of this year’s exhibition, which will continue until 5 January. Accompanied by a human chain of a thousand young people, the urn with the relics travelled from the Basilica of Bom Jesus to the cathedral.

After six bodies were found over the weekend, protesters stormed the homes of local BJP lawmakers. The Union government is sending thousands of special forces, while the Union Home Affairs minister tries to resolve the situation peacefully. For the archbishop emeritus of Imphal, the government is “only watching".

Eleven more ethnic Kukis were killed in Jiribam district. Police describe them as “militants", a claim challenged by the Forum of Tribal Leaders who view the incident as a deliberate attack against volunteers patrolling their village after it was involved in an attack last week. Archbishop Neli calls for prayers, that life might get back to normal.

India’s Home Affair Minister Amit Shah announced the policy presenting his party’s election manifesto for the 20 November state election. Currently, 10 out of 36 Indian states and territories have such a draconian law on the books, which is used to intimidate Christians. “No government can come into my soul,” says the archbishop of Bombay. “Freedom of religion and conversion is a human right,” he adds.

Khaled Abu Ajwa, executive director of the non-profit organisation, received the award at yesterday's ceremony in Mumbai. The award recognises the children who “inspire us every day in Lebanon, across the Levant, and around the world,” he told AsiaNews. The event was an opportunity to focus on the Syrian war, which has now lasted for 13 years. Ratan Tata, the Indian tycoon who died a few weeks ago, was also awarded.

The wound in the northeastern Indian state is still open. Some houses were set on fire last night. The mainly Christian Kuki community reports continued incursions by Meitei extremists. Fears are growing that hitherto neutral ethnic Nagas might be caught up in the violence. Talks proposed by the Union Home Affairs Ministry have gone nowhere.

Surendra Jain, local Vhp leader, speaks of ‘involvement’ of church institutions in the ‘business’ of drug trafficking. In addition to ‘destroying our culture, insulting traditions, beliefs’. Three Christian organisations file a complaint with the authorities against the defamatory campaign. Words ‘contemptuous and hateful’.

The long-postponed rite takes place amid protest. The apostolic administration of the "rebel" Diocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly limited the rite to new priests who sign an affidavit in which they commit themselves to celebrate the liturgy according to the "uniform" rite adopted by the synod. In a circular he banned priests and lay people from participating in associations that “criticise the official stance of the Church”.