Thousands of Christians marched in protest against the recent attacks on churches in New Delhi
Nuns, priests and archbishops chanted Hail Mary on the streets of Bengaluru today as thousands of Christians took out a procession in the city against the recent attacks on churches in Delhi.
The rally began at the St John's College of Nursing just off the busy Hosur Road and saw the protesters marching, carrying banners.
Participants spoke of the need to be allowed to practice their religion with freedom and called for attacks on churches to stop.
The Archbishop of Bengaluru, Rev Bernard Moras, along with other Archbishops from around the country brought up the rear of the procession.
"Hardly a day has passed off in recent months without reports of attacks on Christians, Churches and Christian institutions from across the nation," said a statement by the archbishops.
"The police manhandling of peaceful gathering of even women, children, nuns and priests at the gate of the Sacred Heart Cathedral in the heart of New Delhi on February 5, 2015 raises questions whether constitutional guarantees are not applicable to the Christian community," the statement added.
Yesterday, a large number of policemen cracked down on a protest in Delhi against attacks on churches, and dragged activists, including priests, into buses.
The protest outside the Sacred Heart cathedral in the heart of the city was "unlawful", said the police, who were seen pulling women and even children, leaving bags and shoes scattered on the road.
Christian groups had organized a silent march to highlight what they called lack of serious action in recent attacks on churches. They said they would march to Home Minister Rajnath Singh's residence.
There have been five attacks on churches since December. Some Christian groups suspect a pattern of orchestrated attacks, and say the police are undermining them.