Church Leaders Meet Indian PM, Raise Concerns Over ‘Attacks’
(UCA News) — A delegation of Church leaders met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 12, a month after he was elected to power for the third consecutive term, and expressed concerns about the increasing hostility Christians face in the country.Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Trichur, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, led the four-member delegation along with federal minister Suresh Gopi, a parliamentarian elected from southern Kerala state and a member of Modi’s Bhartiya Janata Party.
The 45-minute meeting at the prime minister’s office “was cordial, and the prime minister gave us a good hearing,” Thazhath told the media at the bishops’ conference office in New Delhi.
The delegation submitted a memorandum expressing anxiety over the increasing attacks on Christians, the false allegations of forced conversions, and the misuse of anti-conversion laws, Thazhath said.
The leaders wanted Modi’s intervention to stop the atrocities on minorities and harassment of Christians.
The memorandum also sought for Christians of Dalit origin the special benefits meant for socially poor Dalit people. These concessions are denied to them on the ground that Christianity does not follow the caste system.
The memorandum said Dalit Christians face double discrimination as society discriminates them as lower caste, and the government excludes them from welfare measures. The Church delegation wanted governmental steps to extend reservation benefits to Dalit Christians.
The Church leaders also asked the government not to stop the government’s special benefits–such as quota for them in government jobs and educational institutions and financial aid–that tribal Christians now receive.
The plea comes as some Hindu groups want the government to stop such benefits, saying Christian tribal people do not follow the tribal religions and so should not be considered tribal once converted.
The memorandum highlighted the absence of Christian representation in the national commissions for minorities and minority educational institutions. It wanted Modi to consider appointing qualified Christians to various ministries and departments of the government.
The Church leaders told Modi that several Christian-run NGOs face challenges when they approach renewing their licenses to receive foreign funds despite their deep involvement in social service.
The memorandum also highlighted the Christian community’s significant contributions, particularly in education, healthcare, and social welfare.
Thazhath also repeated the Church’s request to invite Pope Francis to India, and Modi responded that he had already invited the pope twice.
Thazhath said Modi invited Pope Francis to India during the G20 summit in Italy last year and met him at the G7 summit on June 13-15.
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