A section of Christian MPs has asked the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) to stand with the Muslim community regarding the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. Constitution, opposition MPs told CBCI.
The opinion was aired at a meeting convened by the CBCI, which represents most of the Catholic Churches in the country, in New Delhi on Tuesday. The Bill was earlier sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to seek the views of various stakeholders.
According to a member of parliament who participated in the meeting, the attention of the church was drawn to the violation of constitutional values by the Waqf Amendment Bill. Even if it is a case of personal property dispute, it should be opposed. For example, the Kerala State Waqf Board has claimed 404 acres of land on the Munambam coast in Ernakulam district – land inhabited by around 600 Christian and Hindu families for generations.
Cutting across party lines, opposition MPs also told officials that the church should also oppose “growing anti-Muslim hatred”.
The meeting was chaired by CBCI President Archbishop Andrews Thajath. Among those present were Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs and BJP leader George Kurien, CPI(M) MP John Britas, Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien, Congress MPs Hiby Eden and Dean Kuriakose and Joram People’s Movement Party MP Richard Vanlalhamgaiha.
The agenda of the meeting was fixed by the CBCI in a “Reminder”, which was sent to the participants. It said the “discussion agenda” included “an active role for Christian parliamentarians in supporting and protecting the community and its rights” and “increasing attacks and threats against minorities, especially Christians”. The CBCI had informed the MPs that the “points of discussion” included “attacks on churches, institutions and individuals, anti-conversion law, Waqf law and amendment bill, Manipur issue, denial of Scheduled Tribe rights to Dalit Christians, renewal of FCRA and related issues. Papal visit “.
In the meeting, concerns of the church, including violence in Manipur, anti-conversion laws in various states and denial of FCRA clearance to Christian organizations were also raised, sources said. The meeting was significant because it was “the first convened by Catholic priests in decades,” sources said.
However, the CBCI clarified that the meeting with the Christian MPs was an “informal gathering”. According to a statement issued by the CBCI, the meeting was “convened for informal sharing and discussion between various political parties and Christian MPs of the CBCI”.
The gathering concluded with a Christmas dinner that “enhanced cooperation and festive spirit”, the statement said.
The statement added, “The CBCI emphasized that its meeting was not a formal conference or a politically motivated event, but rather an opportunity for Christian parliamentarians to come together and celebrate the true spirit of Christmas.”