Thrissur (Kerala), April 12: A bishop of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in Kerala said on Wednesday that an “unnecessary propaganda” claiming that the Christian community is persecuted in India has been unleashed internationally by vested interests, and it amounted to insulting a great nation.
There are communal organisations among all religious groups, but the ultimate goal of religions and such outfits is different, Geevarghese Mar Yulios, the metropolitan of the Kunnamkulam Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, told reporters here.
Such vested interests were propagating that there was no religious freedom in the country and that the Christian community was being widely attacked in the nation.
“I used to get calls from abroad asking what is happening there (in India)…whether people are being killed, and so on. Of course, India is a big country. There may be some resentments here and there. It should be dealt with legally. Protests also should be staged if required,” he said.
He pointed out the example of a protest held against the harassment of nuns while he had served in Gujarat some time ago. The bishop said it was proved later that the accused were those who had intruded into India using fake ID cards. “When they were caught (by the investigators), they were not VHP activists or such others. I am not saying that the VHP is good,” he added.
His remarks assume significance in view of the BJP’s bid to reach out to Kerala’s numerically strong Christian community ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. (PTI)
