Banglore: May 24, 2006. The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) defends Pope Benedict XVI concern over religious freedom in India. Pope Benedict has been one of the great admirers of India`s secular nature and he continues to do so ever today. Time and again, Pope Benedict has expressed his great love for the country, which has rich tradition of religious tolerance and brotherhood. However, in recent time there are increased violence and attacks against Christians in Rajsthan, Orissa, Gujrat and other States. Unabated attacks in Rajasthan where anti-conversion bill has been passed and special surveys are carried out to curb religious freedom of Christians is a matter of deep concern for people all over the world People who have been raising voices against religious intolerances are keeping a studied silence on the matters of attacks against Christian. Pope Benedict too is guardian of religious freedom in the world and he was deeply concerned about the manner in which the anti-conversion bill was passed in Rajasthan and Christians are targeted elsewhere for exercising the constitutional guarantees to the minorities in India. It is high time that we set our house in order before pointing fingers at the collective conscience of the world The Global Council of Indian Christians committed to be the voice of the voiceless and persecuted people in India unequivocally defends Pope Benedict in his call for religious freedom in India for the minorities in India. The GCIC urges the Indian Government to give heed to the concern of the Pope and not to please people who are trying to achieve political mileage out of Pope`s statement on religious freedom in India.