By Team
7/7/2025 India (International Christian Concern) — A legislator belonging to the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the party ruling Maharashtra state in India, put out a bounty on evangelists who allegedly visit villages for proselytization.
In a public speech, BJP Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Gopichand Padalkar allegedly put a rate card for killings of different kinds of Christians, the highest amount being for pastors.
Padalkar allegedly made the speech after a 28-year-old woman, who was four months pregnant, died by suicide in Sangli district of Maharashtra because of an alleged demand for dowry from in-laws and pressure to practice Christianity.
The announcement of the cash reward has sparked outrage among the Christian community.
Christian communities in various towns and cities across Maharashtra have held protests demanding that a police case be registered against the MLA for inciting violence and spreading hatred through Padalkar’s speech.
Protesters also demanded that Padalkar be immediately expelled from the Maharashtra Legislative Council, adding that such individuals have no place in a democratic institution that upholds secular values.
In Jalna town, protesters led by prominent Christian leaders submitted a memorandum to the district collector, requesting action against the legislator.
In Nagpur city, a delegation from the Nagpur City United Churches Forum, comprising MLA Vikas Thakre, Father Sanjay Kotchade, Bishop Satish Yangad, Rev. Suresh Godbole, and others, submitted a memorandum of various demands to Police Commissioner Ravindra Singal.
This story was originally published in persecution.org. Read the full story here.