Two missionary-run schools in the Indian state of Maharashtra were ransacked by a little-known Hindu group on Wednesday for not declaring a holiday on the “Pitramoksha Day.”
Although the state government declared Wednesday a holiday for all state-run educational institutions in Maharashtra, the Holy Cross and Saint Xavier's schools had decided to remain open.
In light of the decision, authorities at the Christian schools were accused of taking up Western culture rather than acting according to age-old Indian culture.
"Missionary schools declare holidays during Western festivals, but they don't respect Hindu festivals,” commented Kishore Kothari, leader of Dharma Sena (Religion Army), a Hindu fundamentalist group supported by the VHP.
“If my son goes to school on 'Pitramoksha Day,' how can he learn our traditional rituals?" he asked the local Indian Express.
According to the city’s superintendent of police, Shashi Mohan Singh, the group behind Wednesday’s attack was armed with rods and sticks, and damaged two buses belonging to the Saint Xavier's school at Ashoka Towers in Shankar Nagar, Nagpur.
Kothari further warned that "[i]f missionary school managements don't mend their attitude, more protests will take place,"
Pitramoksha Day, or Pitramoksha Amavasya, is an important day in the Hindu calendar when prayers are offered to the departed immediate relatives.
RSS
This is inhuman treatment of christians.Why attack the innocents?What's wrong in not observing the declared holiday?In my country,though Islam, is the official religion, the government do not force its non-muslim citizens to observe ALL Muslim holidays.Shame on India and the hindus! Is this what your Hindu religion teaches?To attack others of different faiths if they don't conform to your religious beliefs and practices?You don't see any true christians persecuting people of other faiths. We are COMMANDED by the Lord Jesus Christ to love ALL humanity.God is love and he who has love has God and he who has God has love.This is the message brought to us by Christ.
This sounds like California, I heard they murder the girls who marry Christian men.
But it is worth it.
Indian Christians have a right NOT to observe rituals that contradict what the Bible teaches. It says prayers should not be offered toa dead departed anyone.
This was not a protest, this was a criminal act.