Requesting strict action against unidentified miscreants who were caught on camera, burning bibles in Telangana, AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi wrote to the state's Director-General of Police (DGP) on Monday.
Last month, the accused allegedly assaulted members of a Christian missionary in Telangana, before setting a carton full of Bibles on fire.
The incident happened near Singavatnam village in Kollarapur Mandal in Telangana's Nagar Kurnool district, and the video was widely shared on social media.
"It is our prime concern to maintain religious harmony and peaceful coexistence among different communities of our country. Our constitution ensures such a peaceful environment, but we are concerned about the recent developments in our country. Of late, religious fanaticism is on the path of steady growth in our country. Innumerable are the incidents, where especially Christians, Dalits and other minorities have been attacked," the letter states.
"On January 23, 2018, a mob of religious fanatics attacked a small group of Christians preaching the gospel, by distributing Bibles peacefully. They forcefully snatched the Bibles from them, opened the boxes with Bibles inside their car, piled them up in heap and cruelly burnt hundreds of Bibles in broad daylight, which has severely bruised the sentiments of all Christians in India," the Chandrayangutta legislator added.
He also highlighted other instances where attacks took place on Christians in the state.
"On January 29, a group of fanatics attacked a Church in Togota Mandal in Siddipet District and caused severe damage to the Church's property. On February 1st, Pastor Emmanuel from Sangareddy District was criminally intimidated. A mob of religious fanatics slapped the pastor and threatened to torch the Church with fire, if the pastor didn’t pack up and leave the place," Akbaruddin wrote.
He also highlighted the attack on Christian women on February 2 in Sangareddy District, where Gospel fliers were allegedly forcefully snatched, before the women claimed that they were abused in filthy language.
"Incidents such as these damage the reputation of our great country throughout the world. For this reason, myself Akbaruddin Owaisi MLA, along with the Rashtriya Kraisthava Parishad (RKP), request you to take severest action against these culprits to ensure that such incidents can never be repeated again," the letter said.
"It’s our demand that the culprits be produced before the media and criminal cases be booked under non-bailable sections so that no other citizen of our country will ever venture to indulge in such fanaticism, and learn to respect every religion, as our constitution ensures us," the letter added.
Akbaruddin Owaisi also said that a representation had already been made to the offices of the Chief Minister, the Secretariat and the Home Minister.