As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi toured Australia last week, he did so against a backdrop of rising violence against and murder of Christians and other minorities in India.

The policies of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have been contributing to this persecution.

The BJP, is a Hindu nationalist party, with a “one India” vision which excludes non-Hindus.

A climate of religious intolerance emboldens radical groups to carry out attacks against religious minorities, including Christians and Muslims.

The latest round of violence in the northeastern state of Manipur resulted in 108 villages completely destroyed, 200 plus churches burned down, over 80 killed (including many Christian tribal citizens) and 66,000 people — mostly Christians — have been displaced from their homes.

Family First believes Prime Minister Albanese should have raised this with Modi during his visit last week.

Friendship with India is good for both nations but friends should speak plainly about human rights abuses.

Australia prides itself on its tolerance of other religions and there is a one million-strong Indian community here, most of which are Hindu and all of whom are free to practice their faith.

It should be the same for the 65 million Christians of India.

Sadly, the authorities in India turn a blind eye to the violence against Christians.

There are allegations of complicity and inaction on the part of law enforcement agencies, where cases of violence are often not thoroughly investigated, and the perpetrators often go unpunished.

This lack of accountability sends a message that such acts of violence are acceptable, further encouraging the perpetrators.

The Indian government's silence on these issues has raised concerns among human rights organizations and religious leaders worldwide.

They have called for the government to take strong measures to protect the rights and safety of religious minorities, including Christians.

However, the lack of political will to address these issues has left many Christians in India feeling marginalized and vulnerable.

The situation in Manipur, where the recent violent clashes occurred, is a tragic example of the ongoing persecution.

Churches were burned, homes were destroyed, and innocent people were attacked, resulting in a significant loss of life and displacement of thousands.

As the violence continues and the situation worsens, organizations like Global Christian Relief have been working on the ground to provide assistance and support to those affected. However, the needs are immense, and the international community must come together to condemn the violence and pressure the Indian government to protect the rights of all its citizens, regardless of their religious affiliation.

It is crucial to recognize that the violence against Christians in India is not representative of the entire country.

India is a diverse nation with a long history of religious coexistence, and many Indians reject the extremist ideologies fuelling the attacks.