The new found camaraderie between the Sangh Parivar and the Church is likely to come to end, as the observations and apprehensions of the Kerala Catholic Bishop Council indicated.
The Union Home Ministry’s decision not to renew the permission given to Calcutta based Missionaries of Charity for receiving donations under Foreigners Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) has upset the Catholic community in the State. Deepika, the mouthpiece of the community, in its editorial on Wednesday has made a scathing attack on the BJP-led Government at the Centre and tered the decision as a violation of privileges enjoyed by the minorities under the Constitution.
“Though the Missionaries of Charity has played down the impact of the Home Ministry’s decision, the community members have genuine concerns over the move by the Government of India. There is a concerted move by certain Hindutwa forces to derail the operations of the Missionaries of Charity lajnched by Mother Teressa. The Government should allow the nuns of the congregation to go ahead with their mission of helping the poor and needy,” said the editorial.
The daily has also lambasted the Karnataka Government’s Religious Conversion Bill as yet another proof that the minorities were not safe in the country. “This is a Bill with hidden agenda as it would encourage the zealots in the Hindu religion, There is strong possibilities of the misuse of this Act against the minorities.
The editorial pointed out that citizens in the country are free to believe and propagate the religion of their choice. “This is a Bill which would certainly be misused against the Christians in the country. The role played by the Church in bringing education and health to the poor sections of society could never be ignored. We should get the freedom and liberty assured by the Constitution,” the editorial opined.
The Sangh Parivar had tried to strengthen a rapport with the Church following the declaration made by Bishop Kallarangattu of Pala that the Jihadists were using narcotics to woo Christian girls and this has given rise to a new term in the State’s narrative-Narcotics Jihad.
The Kerala Catholic Bishops Council too issued a statement by Wednesday evening demanding the Centre to initiate immediate action to prevent the “widespread attacks” on Christians by Hindu extremists.