The United Christian Forum (UCF) sent an urgent communication to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, expressing deep concern over a significant rise in violence and hostility towards the Christian community in India. The letter highlighted what the UCF described as alarming levels of targeted violence, alleging that law enforcement often collaborates with Hindutva groups, neglecting offenses committed against Christians.
The UCF reported 834 incidents of violence against Christians in 2024 and 706 incidents through November 2025, labeling the trend “deeply disturbing.” A. C. Michael, National Coordinator of the UCF, pointed to “false allegations of forced or fraudulent religious conversions” as a primary catalyst for these attacks, with Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh emerging as the most affected states.
Citing findings from the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), the UCF claimed that police frequently turn a blind eye to crimes against Christians, resulting in disrupted prayer meetings and intimidated worshippers. The letter also raised concerns about violent burial-related incidents in tribal areas, where Christians are often denied burial space, forcibly exhumed, and threatened with violence and attempts at ghar wapsi (forced reconversion).
Notable incidents from Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Jharkhand were referenced, with the UCF stating that such actions have fostered “an environment of fear rather than dignity.” The forum criticized various anti-conversion laws in multiple states, arguing that these laws are misused to target religious minorities and erode constitutional rights related to freedom of religion and equality.
The UCF pointed to Supreme Court comments affirming that peaceful religious activities, such as Bible preaching and charity work, do not constitute unlawful conversion. They warned that ongoing prosecutions could be deemed “an abuse of the criminal process.” Additionally, the UCF urged the government to cancel a proposed “Chhattisgarh Bandh” set for December 24, warning that targeting an entire religious community could threaten social harmony and public safety.
In its recommendations, the UCF called for systematic human rights and religious freedom training for both state and central police forces and the judiciary through the Ministry of Home Affairs. While acknowledging that maintaining public order is primarily a state responsibility, the forum urged the Centre to issue advisories for the repeal of anti-conversion laws that are reportedly misapplied.
The letter demanded that Human Rights Commissions and Minority Commissions be made operational in every state, with members chosen through transparent, unbiased processes. It emphasized the need for government action to prevent and legally address violence against religious minorities and Dalits. The UCF also suggested fostering dialogue among religious leaders, legal experts, and civil society regarding allegations of improper conversions in states with anti-conversion legislation.
Moreover, the forum called for adequate compensation for individuals and families affected by violence due to their faith, including those wrongfully accused under anti-conversion laws. The UCF urged the government to promptly implement recommendations from the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities, particularly the proposal that religion should not determine eligibility for Scheduled Caste benefits.
The letter stressed the urgency of government intervention, stating that the reported incidents represent “only a fraction” of the persecution experienced by Christians in India. It called for “swift and decisive action” to restore justice, protect constitutional rights, and ensure that all citizens can coexist peacefully, irrespective of their faith.
This letter was issued following multiple hate crime incidents involving Hindu right-wing groups reported nationwide in the days leading up to Christmas. Notably, a BJP functionary in Jabalpur was involved in harassing and physically assaulting a visually impaired woman over conversion allegations, and in Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar, Bajrang Dal members confronted Christians wearing Santa Claus hats, accusing them of conversion amid a wave of similar attacks.
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