Church Criticizes BJP’s ‘Double Standards’ in Kerala Outreach to Christians

Quick Summary:

• The BJP is intensifying efforts to woo the Catholic community in Kerala ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.
• An editorial in Deepika, the official mouthpiece of the Catholic Church in Kerala, accuses BJP of “double standards” regarding Christian persecution.
• The editorial highlights incidents of rising attacks on Christians across India, including allegations against a BJP MLA in Maharashtra for offering cash rewards to individuals attacking Catholic priests and missionaries.
• Maharashtra’s BJP Revenue Minister has announced plans to introduce stringent anti-conversion laws,adding to fears within Christian communities.
• A report by the United Christian Forum cited 4,316 incidents of violence against Christians from 2014 to 2024. In 2024 alone, there were 834 recorded attacks compared to just 127 in 2014 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi came into power.
• Past records noted that longstanding institutions such as Bombay Archdiocese and Kalyan Diocese have operated without irregularities over decades but are now under scrutiny by authorities.
• The editorial criticises BJP for pursuing conflicting narratives: courting christian support in Kerala while remaining silent on violence against Christians elsewhere.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The editorial from Deepika sheds light on tensions between minority concerns and political ambitions ahead of key elections. While efforts by any political party to engage with community interests are legitimate strategies during campaigns, allegations surrounding rising incidents specifically targeting Christians merit close scrutiny.

The data provided-highlighting an increase from fewer than 150 reported attacks in earlier years (2014) growing exponentially into hundreds annually (recently)-signals heightened challenges for protecting India’s pluralistic fabric. This becomes crucial as communities like Catholics with centuries-long historical roots remain integral parts essential nationwide dialog continuity post safeguarding.

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