A delegation from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), led by Archbishop Andrews Thazhath, met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 12 to address the ongoing violence in Manipur and the challenges faced by Dalit Christians.
The bishops expressed their concerns about “rumours” of discontinuing reservations for Dalit tribals and highlighted the increasing attacks against Christians under false accusations of forced conversions, leveraging anti-conversion laws.
“There have been several instances of harassment and attacks under false allegations of forced conversions and the misuse of anti-conversion laws. We wish to clarify that the Church firmly opposes forced conversions,” the prelates said in the letter submitted to Modi.
In response to concerns about the situation in Manipur, Archbishop Thazhath shared that the Prime Minister described the conflict as non-communal.
“He said it is an ethnic conflict and it does not have a communal colour. We told him about the present situation there,” Archbishop Thazhath told reporters.
The bishops urged Modi to take decisive actions to restore and ensure peace and harmony in the area.
Further discussions centred on the need for extending reservation benefits to Dalit Christians to prevent discrimination based on religion and maintaining reservations for tribal Christians.
The CBCI also called for the appointment of Christian members to the National Commission for Minorities and the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions to address discrimination against “minorities within minorities.”
The bishops also raised concerns about the challenges faced by Christian NGOs under the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA), noting significant difficulties in renewing FCRA registrations, which is crucial for their operations and receipt of foreign funds.
The meeting concluded with the bishops’ recognition of Modi’s reassurances that the violence in Manipur was the work of fringe elements, not linked to the government or the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
However, the Prime Minister did not provide specific answers on the demands for quotas for Dalit Christians or on maintaining their status among recognized tribes and castes.
Data from the EFI Religious Liberty Commission (EFIRLC) indicated a sharp increase in violent incidents targeting the Christian community, with figures rising from 413 in 2022 to 601 by the end of 2023.
Despite urgent appeals from victims, church leaders, and civil society, the Indian political framework, law enforcement agencies, and justice system—particularly at the village and small-town levels—have been criticized for their sluggish and inadequate responses.
