India (MNN) — Protests spread from Mumbai to different parts of India after a lawmaker imposed hefty bounties on Gospel workers.

In a public speech last week, Gopichand Padalkar from the ruling Hindu nationalist party put out a “rate card” for harassing Christian leaders. Padalkar offered 300,000 rupees (US$3,500) to anyone who beat up a Gospel worker, while murdering a pastor would earn 1.1 million rupees (US$13,000).

“There has been a lot of pushback from the Christian community in India, who are saying, ‘Look, this is a government leader who is offering a bounty on killing Christians,’” Todd Nettleton with The Voice of the Martyrs USA says.

“Thankfully, there has also been some pushback from within his own party, saying, ‘That was irresponsible. He shouldn’t have said that. That is not our party’s position.’”

Protestors want more than an apology. “They are pressing the government to file charges against him (Padalkar) because of that illegal act,” Nettleton says.

“It’s illegal for him to stand up and say, ‘You should kill Christians, and here’s how much I will pay you for doing so.’”

(Graphic courtesy VOM USA)

Current laws pave the way for persecution. More about that here. State officials in Maharashtra announced plans to pursue a statewide anti-conversion law last Wednesday.

“A lot of this goes back to the anti-conversion laws that make it illegal to talk to someone about changing their religion. It is designed to close down avenues for Christians, in particular, to share the Gospel and tell other people about Jesus,” Nettleton says.

“While the constitution is secular, the government of Prime Minister Modi, the BJP Hindu nationalist party, really does advocate for every Indian to be a Hindu. Anyone who is talking to Indians about not being Hindu is considered an enemy.”

Pray for boldness and courage for the Christian community in India to continue sharing the Gospel, despite the increasing pressure and threat of persecution.

“Pray for the families of pastors in jail [or] who’ve been arrested. It’s a great challenge, and it’s easy to grow discouraged,” Nettleton says.

 

Header image courtesy of The Voice of the Martyrs USA.