Kochi: The Catholic Church in Kerala has taken a strong stance against the BJP and the Union government over the escalating violence in Manipur. The Church, which had been accused of having cosy ties with the BJP, has now openly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, effectively ending the bonhomie that had developed over the past months.
The Archbishop of Thalassery diocese, Joseph Pamplany, initially made a guarded statement, describing the Manipur violence as a clash between two tribes and cautioning against using it for political gain. However, he has now unleashed scathing criticism, referring to the violence as genocide and directly targeting Prime Minister Modi.
The official spokesperson of the Kerala Catholic Bishop Council (KCBC), Jacob G Palackapilly, went a step further, labelling the Prime Minister as a man with double standards and accusing the central government of fostering a fascist regime.
The Catholic Church representatives pointed out incidents of attacks on Christian institutions when the BJP came to power in Manipur and Karnataka. They criticized the Indian media for remaining silent while highlighting that the international media had been reporting on these incidents. The spokesperson also expressed concern over the insecurity felt by minority communities when Christians and Muslims are targeted, emphasizing that India is under a fascist government.
Bishop Pamplany, addressing a gathering in Thrissur held in solidarity with the victims of Manipur, revealed the shocking revelation that what initially appeared to be a conflict between tribes was, in fact, a deliberate and planned effort to destroy Christians in Manipur. He cited numerous atrocities, including killings and the destruction of over 500 churches, resulting in the deaths of more than 300 Christians. The bishop accused the government of being complicit in the violence, questioning how the assailants had access to the uniforms of armed forces and police.
Moreover, the bishop denounced PM Modi's claim, made during a recent visit to the United States, that there is no discrimination based on caste, creed, or religion in India. He stated that minority communities can no longer believe such assertions, pointing to the faces of Christians in Manipur as evidence of discrimination. The bishop also expressed support for Muslims in North India, who are similarly targeted.
The Catholic Church's shift in position has raised questions regarding its motives. While some speculate that the recent probe by the Enforcement Directorate into irregularities related to land sales by Cardinal George Alencherry may have influenced this change, a priest from Thalassery diocese suggested it was due to the Church leadership's realization of the truth behind the Manipur violence.
The priest asserted that the situation in Manipur had worsened beyond expectations and that the Church leadership had come to understand the BJP's true nature as a party with which minorities cannot align.
In response to the grave situation in Manipur, the KCBC is planning to hold a meeting on July 5th at their office in Kochi to declare their solidarity with the people of Manipur. This public demonstration of support aims to shed light on the alleged government-sponsored violence and call attention to the plight of minority communities facing discrimination and persecution in various parts of India.