As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ramps up its campaign to gain favour with the Catholic community in Kerala ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, the Church has openly expressed disapproval of what it terms the party’s “double standards” regarding the persecution of Christians.
On Monday, July 14, Deepika, the official publication of the Catholic Church in Kerala, published a sharply worded editorial that cast a spotlight on the rising violence faced by Christians across India. The piece, titled “Applauding the hunter while patting the prey?”, raises pressing questions in the wake of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent claim that the BJP is preparing to form the government in Kerala in 2026.
Condemning the BJP’s alleged contradictory conduct as “deeply humiliating,” the editorial takes aim at the party for advancing conflicting narratives. While BJP figures in Christian-majority regions like Goa and Kerala project themselves as protectors of the community, the same party, according to the editorial, is accused of fostering or tolerating attacks on Christians in states such as Odisha, Maharashtra, and parts of northern India.
“The latest of these alarming developments is now unfolding in Maharashtra, where BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar has promised cash rewards ranging from ₹3 lakh to ₹11 lakh to individuals who attack Catholic priests and missionaries,” the article states.
The piece goes on to highlight further concerns by stating, “The state’s Revenue Minister, also from the BJP, has announced plans to introduce a stringent anti-conversion law. As a result, Christians in Maharashtra are now living in deep fear and anxiety. This is yet another example of the BJP’s strategy of stoking communal tensions and anti-minority sentiment for political gain.”
The editorial accuses the BJP of executing a dual agenda, intensifying majoritarian dominance while simultaneously undermining India’s foundational democratic values of pluralism.
Referencing the deep historical roots of Christianity in Maharashtra, the article remarks, “Historical records show that Christian presence in Maharashtra dates back to 1321. The renowned Bombay Archdiocese was established in 1886. What irregularities is the BJP government suddenly finding in the functioning of such a long-established institution that is now in its 140th year? Likewise, the Kalyan Diocese of the Syro-Malabar Church, founded in 1988, has operated for more than three decades without facing any allegations,” the editorial states.
Drawing from data compiled by the United Christian Forum, the editorial presents figures illustrating the sharp rise in attacks against Christians over the past decade. It notes that between 2014 and 2024, a total of 4,316 incidents were recorded. In 2024 alone, the number of cases stood at 834, marking a significant increase from the 127 incidents reported in 2014, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi first assumed office.
The piece ends by urging the BJP to resolve its contradictory stance toward Christian communities across India. “Before seeking the support of the Christian community, the BJP must first end its double standards and bring clarity to its stance on minorities.”
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com.