Rights Tribunal Warns of “Systemic” Threats to Religious Freedom and Equal Citizenship in India

Newsroom (03/06/2026 Gaudium Press ) A fact-finding team comprising prominent rights activists, historians and journalists has raised alarm over what it describes as unprecedented challenges to constitutional guarantees of religious freedom, equality and freedom of conscience in India.

The warning came from the People’s Tribunal on Violence Against Christians in India, which released a statement on June 2 following a public hearing in New Delhi. The hearing marked the culmination of a wider investigative process that included field visits and regional hearings in Chhattisgarh and Odisha during April and May.

According to the tribunal, systemic failures by institutions entrusted with safeguarding constitutional rights have contributed to an environment in which discrimination is increasingly normalized. “When institutions entrusted with protecting constitutional rights fail to act, discrimination becomes normalized and systemic,” the panel stated.

Widespread Testimonies of Violence and Exclusion

Tribunal member John Dayal, a veteran journalist and activist, said the panel engaged directly with hundreds of individuals from affected communities, particularly among Adivasi and Dalit Christians. Testimonies documented a range of alleged abuses, including violence, forced displacement, social boycotts and denial of basic constitutional protections.

Survivors described a pattern in which local authorities failed to provide protection or legal recourse. According to the tribunal’s findings, police responses in several instances included delays in investigation, filing cases against victims instead of perpetrators, and encouraging informal settlements over formal justice.

The statement further highlighted concerns that judicial and legislative developments in recent decades have not adequately protected vulnerable minority communities.

A Pattern, Not Isolated Incidents

Human rights advocate Harsh Mandar, another member of the tribunal, emphasized that the incidents examined could not be dismissed as sporadic or isolated acts. Instead, he described them as part of a broader and more troubling trend.

“What emerges is not random prejudice or spontaneous hostility, but a systematic pattern of exclusion,” Mandar said. He warned that such developments threaten the constitutional guarantee of equal citizenship and undermine fundamental freedoms.

Historian Tanika Sarkar echoed these concerns, pointing to what she described as the normalization of majoritarian intolerance. She also warned of a shrinking space for religious freedom and democratic participation for minority communities.

Documentary Evidence Highlights Growing Fear

As part of its proceedings, the tribunal screened a documentary produced by Karwan-e-Mohabbat, a people’s campaign dedicated to upholding constitutional values. The film was created following a fact-finding mission across six districts in Madhya Pradesh—Jhabua, Burhanpur, Indore, Dhar, Khandwa and Sehore.

The documentary presented firsthand accounts of violence and intimidation, including attacks on churches and prayer gatherings, harassment of pastors, arrests under anti-conversion laws, and denial of burial rights. It also documented social ostracization and an overarching climate of fear within Christian communities.

Evidence presented to the tribunal suggested the involvement of Hindutva organizations in several incidents, while also raising questions about the responses of political leaders, police, and judicial institutions.

Lived Reality of Survivors

Survivors who testified before the panel shared deeply personal accounts of fear, isolation and economic hardship. Many described being cut off from their communities and livelihoods due to their religious identity.

Despite these challenges, the tribunal noted a recurring theme of resilience. Many individuals expressed a determination to continue practicing their faith peacefully, even amid ongoing threats and social pressures.

Regions of Concern

Chhattisgarh and Odisha—two states included in the tribunal’s field investigation—have long been identified by Christian rights groups as areas where anti-Christian violence has been particularly severe in recent decades.

The tribunal’s findings suggest that these patterns persist, raising broader concerns about the state of religious freedom across the country.

Broader Implications

The tribunal’s report frames the issue not simply as a matter of isolated violence, but as a structural challenge to India’s constitutional framework. By documenting what it describes as systemic patterns of exclusion and institutional inaction, the panel has called attention to the broader implications for democratic governance and minority rights.

Its conclusions underscore a critical concern: that when accountability mechanisms weaken, the protections guaranteed by law risk becoming ineffective in practice.

• Raju Hasmukh with files from UCA News