Patna: Responding to Delhi Archbishop circular of calling upon all the Catholics to start a year-long prayer campaign ahead of the 2019 general elections, RSS ideologue Rakesh Sinha called the move as an “direct attack on Indian secularism and democracy”.
“This is a direct attack by the Church on Indian secularism and democracy, and this is a direct intervention by the Vatican as these Bishops are appointed by the Pope. Their accountability is not to India but to Pope,” Sinha responded.
“Another big reason for this is after the formation of the Prime Minister Modi’s government, church-oriented NGOs, received less money due to stricter laws. The Church organisations used to take this money for a variety of cause but in reality, utilise this only for religious conversions. They want a government to be made so that their conversion business flourishes,” Sinha added.
Rakesh Sinha also tweeted “Missionaries by meddling in politics giving bad name to Indian Christians. “Conversion Enterprise’ is facing threat under nationalist government. Cash flow under FCRA is reduced from RS 17773 crores in 2015-16 to 6795 crores in16-17. This had hit them very hard.”
Missionaries by meddling in politics giving bad name to Indian Christians. “Conversion Enterprise’ is facing threat under nationalist government. cash flow under FCRA is reduced from RS 17773 crores in 2015-16 to 6795 crores in16-17. This had hit them very hard.
— Prof Rakesh Sinha (@RakeshSinha01) May 21, 2018
BJP leader Giriraj Singh criticised the Archbishop’s circular, saying, Every action has a reaction. I won’t take a step that disrupts communal harmony. But if the church asks people to pray so that Modi govt isn’t formed, country will have to think that people from other religions will do ‘kirtan pooja.”
Every action has a reaction. I won’t take a step that disrupts communal harmony. But if church asks people to pray so that Modi govt isn’t formed, country will have to think that people from other religions will do ‘kirtan pooja’: Giriraj Singh on Archbishop’s letter to priests pic.twitter.com/lyJw9cFdvp
— ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2018
Home Minister Rajnath Singh also commented on this circular, “I have not seen the letter, but I want to say India is one of those countries where minorities are safe & no one is allowed to discriminate on the basis of caste & religion.” he told the reporters.
I have not seen the letter, but I want to say India is one of those countries where minorities are safe & no one is allowed to discriminate on the basis of caste & religion: HM Rajnath Singh, on Archbishop’s letter to priests asking to “pray for country” ahead of 2019 elections. pic.twitter.com/JhsZCGVGIB
— ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2018
Earlier on Monday in a letter written to all parish priests in the capital, the Archbishop of Delhi, Anil Couto, asked for a prayer campaign to be launched and also appealed for fasting on Fridays ahead of the 2019 general elections.
In the circular addressed to all parish priests and religious institutions in the Archdiocese of Delhi, Archbishop Anil Joseph Thomas Couto said, “We are witnessing a turbulent political atmosphere which poses a threat to the democratic principles enshrined in our Constitution and the secular fabric of our nation,” while urging the Christians to pray for the political leaders of the country as the general elections are nearing.
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