New York. February 15, 2007. The Indian Christian Forum (ICF) of New York expresses its deep shock and anguish at the news of the persecution of peaceful members of the Christian community in Chickmaglur district of Karnartaka. We call upon the district authorities to immediately release the Christian pastors and lay workers who have been arrested and jailed in serious violation of their constitutional rights of freedom of religion. We are distressed to note that the poison of communalism and anti-Christian prejudice has spread so widely in the state of Karnataka. This has been fostered by the policies and actions of the BJP Government of the state and has been spread by the hate filled propaganda of its social organizations such as the RSS and the Bajrang Dal. We join with other Christian Organizations to urge the Karnataka Government to hold an impartial enquiry into this tragic incident and hold those responsible to account for their crimes. Incidents of persecution of minority communities in Karnataka are on the rise and we call upon the UPA Government to intervene in the interests of social harmony and peace. The international image of India as a democracy and a country that respects human rights and constitutional guarantees is under threat. The ICF joins all those who love our motherland in appealing to the Government of Karnataka in asking for decisive intervention in this particular incident and in taking broader steps to stem this growing communal virus from spreading.