Indian bishops meet PM Modi to discuss attacks on Christians

By Lisa Zengarini

Catholic bishops in India have expressed concern over the growing hostility faced by Christians in the country.

During a meeting with newly re-elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi last week, a delegation from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), led by its president, Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Trichur, sought his intervention to end violence and harassment of Christians, according to Uca Press Agency.

Misuse of anti-conversion laws

During the 45-minute meeting, which the bishops described as “cordial,” the four-member delegation handed the leader of the Hindu nationalist Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) a memorandum deploring the misuse of anti-conversion laws and the increasing attacks on Christians under the false pretext of forced conversions.

Discrimination

The memorandum also reiterates the church’s long-standing call for the government to extend special benefits reserved in India for low-caste Dalits – such as quotas in government jobs and educational institutions and financial assistance – to Christian Dalits. Christian and Muslim Dalits continue to be excluded from these concessions introduced after India’s independence, on the grounds that Christianity and Islam do not follow the caste system. Church leaders have further urged Prime Minister Modi not to end the government’s special benefits for tribal Christians, as some Hindu groups have demanded. According to these groups, Christian tribals do not follow tribal religions and should therefore not be considered tribals once converted.

The memorandum informs Modi of the long absence of Christian representation in the National Commission for Minorities and the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions and calls for the appointment of Christians in these institutions.

Unjustified challenges for Christian NGOs

She also expressed concern over the “undue challenges” Christian NGOs face in renewing their registration under the Foreign Currency Regulation Act (FCRA), highlighting the important contributions of the Christian community, particularly in education, healthcare and social welfare.

Modi invites Pope Francis to visit India

The memorandum welcomes Modi’s invitation to Pope Francis to visit India during the outreach session of the June G7 summit in southern Italy and calls for continued efforts to expedite the process of the Pope’s visit to India.

During the meeting, the delegation also sought Modi’s intervention in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, where ethnic violence has been raging since May 3, 2023.