A watchdog is sounding the alarm about increasing anti-Christian persecution in India, the world’s most populous nation.
Joel Veldkamp, head of international communications at Christian Solidarity International, told CBN News that the intensifying situation comes as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads to the U.S. this week to meet with President Donald Trump.
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The encounter could offer an opportunity for Trump and the West to pressure Modi to stem the tide of persecution, according to Veldkamp. The watchdog said the most “extreme case” of persecution is unfolding in Manipur, a state in India’s northeast.
“This is a place where, about two years ago, the region exploded into anti-Christian violence,” Veldkamp said. “There was a conflict over land rights about who had what right to own what land in the territory, and it turned into a religious conflict.”
Just months ago, one of the most horrific examples of violence unfolded.
“There was a mother of three, a Christian woman from this indigenous group … who was attacked by Hindu militants, raped, and burned alive,” Veldkamp said. “And that set off another round of violence between the groups, scores of people were killed, more people were displaced, and the government really seems kind of completely absent from this situation.”
He added that the humanitarian aid to those suffering is “weak” and that government officials have sometimes been complicit, if not lackluster, in their response.
Veldkamp is hoping Modi’s meeting with Trump and other U.S. officials — which is certain to focus on other issues like immigration and tariffs — could also help stem some of the tides of persecution.
“It’s a very important week for U.S.-Indian relations,” he said. “Trump has a relationship with this Prime Minister, and Trump also promised to be a president who would care for persecuted Christians in the world and try to protect them.”
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Reprinted with permission from faithwire.com. Copyright © 2025 The Christian Broadcasting Network Inc. All rights reserved.
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