by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - The International Christian Concern (ICC) advocacy and aid organization reported this week that it has provided aid to 50 Christian farmers suffering intense Hindu nationalist persecution in India’s Chhattisgarh state.
Explaining that minority Christian communities in Chhattisgarh are facing “increasingly severe religious persecution” from radical Hindu nationalists, ICC said it bought seeds and fertilizers for the 50 farming families whose livelihood was destroyed in raids on their land by Hindus.
“We had grown good crops last year, and all of a sudden, one day, violence took place against us, and all the crops were left for animals to eat, and all the animals ate up my hard-earned crops,” one of the farmers said in a statement cited by ICC. “We do not have any food to eat. It was such a tough time for us. We had no seeds and fertilizer to cultivate the land. We were honestly seeking the Lord and waiting on God for his help.”
Another one of the farmers said: “We as a family suffered so much loss due to no seeds and fertilizers for planting crops. God provided the needed products through ICC. It’s been such a big help to us and all our farmers. We thank ICC so much for providing us seeds and fertilizers.”
ICC has long reported on the intensifying persecution of Christians across India, with Chhattisgarh being one of the most dangerous states for Christians. “The escalating religious persecution faced by Christians in Chhattisgarh has become a growing concern, highlighting the urgent need for safeguarding the rights and safety of these minority groups,” ICC said in its report.
India has been ruled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party almost continuously since 2014; it ranks 11th on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.