India's "Culture of Impunity"

From an optimist's perspective, CSW's call for India to reverse the culture of impunity for religious violence is a sign for hope that maybe if the government will begin punishing the attackers and repeal the anti-conversion laws that the violence will stop.

However, from a Christian's point-of-view, there is only hope in Jesus for this persecution to end. Unfortunately, India's historical caste system (however reformed it may be) provides the basis for persecution against anyone deemed "untouchable," whether it be Dalit by occupation or Christian by faith. As long as the government and majority of Indian society holds on to the idea that people are not equal, persecution, punished or not, will continue. History has shown that when people in positions of authority can accept that others are unworthy of certain basic human rights, it opens the door for all sorts of prejudices. It seems as if most acts of genocide have originated from this belief.

Until Indians begin to understand (Dalits included) that no one is untouchable in God's eyes, militant Hinduism will continue to influence Indian politics and acts of Christian persecution and anti-conversion laws will remain unpunished.