India: 'While India’s constitution provides for freedom of religion, many Christians who convert from a Hindu background still face discrimination from family, friends, neighbors and employers. Some Hindus believe Christianity is a threat to Indian culture, and Hindu extremists have exploited these feelings in recent years by promoting a policy of Hindu nationalism. Many observers were surprised when the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), elected to government in 1998, was defeated in this year’s elections. Since then, the Congress-led coalition has begun to investigate some of the abuses of religious freedom carried out under the rule of the BJP. Progress is slow, and it seems the government still has some way to go in breaking down the barriers of suspicion and prejudice.' (Compass Direct)