India

Caritas India will launch a national campaign in April with the slogan, “Save the farmers, Save India” in order to help the regretful phenomenon, which is spreading across the country: suicides amongst farmers. The loss of crops and insurmountable debt has driven farmers into poverty and desperation. They see suicide as the only way to salvation.

Missionaries are charged with proselytising and forced conversion. District where incident occurred is a Hindu nationalist stronghold. Local bishop denounces intensely anti-Christian atmosphere.

The painting began crying a week ago in the dining hall of the local police station. Thousands of people besiege the protestant bishop’s home while Catholics do not confirm and urges caution.

They have asked the local government for a law protection ethnic minorities. 4 murders and countless attacks have targeted the Christian community there. In Tirupati, seat of important Hindu Temples, a violent Hindu protest has broken out. They are asking that all Christian activities be outlawed. A newly converted student commits suicide.

Stephen Maria never went to Catholic schools but an act of forgiveness by a Christian friend towards a student who defrauded him of money led him to know more about Jesus. “The love of Jesus is not only for Christians,” says archbishop who will ordain him next Saturday.

Maoists killed 55 police officers yesterday in Chhattisgarh state. For police officials the rebels’ modus operandi shows that they are the armed wing of an organised group.

Many rural tribes practice child murder on female offspring, often to avoid having to pay costly dowries. Now the government wants to take care of their costs.

Nandigram farmers oppose land requisitions for industrial plants. The government accuses subversive groups, but the opposition calls for strike protests.

Reginald Howell, from the Good Shepard community, was beaten with iron rods by a group of Hindu fundamentalists. The hospital refused treatment fearing reprisal attacks and the police would not file his report

Tibet’s Diaspora community met in Dharamsala, seat of the Dalai Lama’s government in exile, to remember the day when Tibetan women rose up against China’s invasion. The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy slams China for new human rights violations, calling on the world to do something about Beijing’s abuses.

The cardinal talks to AsiaNews about his experience in Bangalore where he is taking part in a conference on shrines and pilgrimages that began yesterday. On Thursday he is off to Taiwan.

The government has so far been unable to cope with the problem, especially in rural areas. Inadequate blood supplies and poor facilities are ongoing issues. And violence against women during their pregnancies is also a major cause in early child mortality. The Church has been actively addressing such issues.