India (MNN) — India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Joe Biden met again on Saturday during Modi’s three-day visit to the U.S. It was part of the fourth in-person gathering of the “Quad” leaders, referring to four chief government leaders of Australia, India, Japan and the U.S.
The summit addressed critical topics such as disease control, technology, and security. However, religious freedom appears absent from Prime Minister Modi and President Biden’s conversations. Press releases on U.S.-India dialogue over clean energy and partnership make no mention of it, and according to a related report from Reuters, one U.S. official declined to say whether the two leaders discussed human rights issues.
President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi pose for a family photo at Archmere Academy in Claymont, Delaware, Saturday, September 21, 2024, before their quadrilateral meeting. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz via Wikimedia Commons)
Although the summit was primarily aimed only at building relationships, religious freedom remains a critical but sensitive topic. For years, entities like USCIRF have voiced concerns over realities in India such as the anti-conversion laws in 12 of India’s 28 states. However, the U.S. Department of State has not included India on its Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) list.
“As far as a national anti-conversion law, [I] haven’t heard too much lately,” says John Pudaite with Bibles for the World. “But you know that it’s on [the BJP’s] agenda, that they’re going to try to slip this in as soon as they can when they feel the time is right.”
Modi has been India’s prime minister since 2014 and is credited with strengthening Hindu nationalism within India. India’s 2024 general election confirmed Modi’s for his third five-year term. However, his party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), does not hold the same majority it once enjoyed.
“It’s been interesting as we see the BJP grow stronger in some states and weaker in others,” Pudaite says. “We’ve actually seen one state, Karnataka, repeal its anti-conversion law in the last year. We see that as a big win for the body of Christ and for the country of India as a whole, to ensure freedom of religion, which is their constitutional right.”
India is number 11 on the World Watch List. This tool from Open Doors evaluates where it is most difficult to follow Christ in the world today. Read more here about what many Christians in India face.
Join in praying for India’s leaders, and ask God to use Bibles For The World as the hands and feet of Christ in India.
“Pray that the Holy Spirit can break through this and bring truth, shed truth, into their hearts and minds, on [the] leadership over the people of India,” Pudaite says.
Header photo: President Joe Biden meets with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, Saturday, September 21, 2024, at his home in Wilmington, Delaware. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz via Wikimedia Commons)
