Christian MPs chalk out strategy to counter attacks

NEW DELHI: Amid rising incidents of assault and violence against Christians and churches, 19 Christian MPs met on Tuesday to chalk out an effective strategy to counter these attacks and project the community’s contribution to Indian society.

In the first such gathering of Christian parliamentarians, the unanimous view was that the rising number of attacks was due to the BJP government’s inability to protect minorities. The meeting was attended by Cardinal Oswald Gracias as well as president of the Catholic Bishop Conference of India and head of the Malankara Catholic church Cardinal Baselios Cleemis.

The MPs opined that the PM had not kept his assurances on protecting interests of the Christian community and that this had resulted in attacks against churches continuing unabated.

The MPs want to expand the group to include more MPs associated with the Christian community. “This not a case of MPs of a distinct religious group meeting. We’re concerned about the continuing attacks on minorities. We hope the assurances given by the PM are honoured”, said Congress MP KV Thomas.

The meeting, held at the Bishop House, was attended by Rajya Sabha deputy chairman PJ Kurien, Trinamool Congress’ Derek O’Brien, and Congress MP Oscar Fernandez among others. Former defence minister AK Antony, who otherwise too, is never identified with the church, skipped the meeting.

“The church took the initiative to invite us. Among other things... we decided Christians should not be in the headlines for reactivate news but for proactive reasons,” said O’Brien. The MPs were of the unanimous view that it is not the majority community but only a minuscule minority among the majority which is communal. The MPs said attention should be focused on the works of Christian community across India. The MPs pointed out that the ruling BJP doesn’t have a single Christian MP among its Lok Sabha members, nor is the community represented in the council of ministers.