Over one hundred church schools, clinics and institutions around Lucknow closed their doors last month in a one day protest in the wake of the vandalization of a church in Agra

Over one hundred Catholic and Anglican church schools, clinics and institutions around Lucknow closed their doors last month in a one day protest in the wake of the vandalization of a church in Agra. While two church run hospitals in Lucknow kept their doors open during the 21 April 2015 protest, the region’s civic institutions joined the protest called by the Uttar Pradesh Masihi Association (UPMA). following vandalism at a church in Agra last week. UPMA secretary Rakesh K Chattree said: “Over the last eight months, over 10 attacks have taken place across the country against Christians — be it the rape of a 72-year-old nun in West Bengal or vandalism of a church in Agra. We request the Prime Minister to conduct a CBI inquiry into any incident as that way it will be clear who is behind these attacks, as the motive remains the same in all cases.”UPMA secretary Rakesh K Chattree told the Indian Express. He added that had the vandalism been directed against a government minister’s house, “the guilty would have been caught immediately… If they don’t heed to our demand and if the attacks continue, we will first call a statewide protest and then a nationwide agitation.” Leaders of the Catholic Church, Church of North India, Orthodox Churches and independent churches met with Governor Ram Naik India’s of India’s Utter Pradesh state during the strike to voice their concern at government inaction in the face of rising anti-Christian persecution by Hindu extremists. After the meeting the church leaders were joined at a public rally by Sikh and Muslim leaders, who called for government action against religious zealots. Local newspapers reported that a leading Muslim cleric told the rally in Lucknow: “The service of Christians in the fields of health and education has been exemplary… Nonetheless, like other minorities, they are being targeted. If minorities have to survive, they have to join hands.”