The Archbishop of Faridabad, Mar Kuriakose Bharanikulangara, has raised concerns over reported attacks on Christians in India and presented a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu. In a recent interview with ANI, he spoke about the situation and stated that various Christian congregations protested in Delhi on February 19, citing attacks on Christian churches and cases against priests and nuns for alleged conversions.

“Subsequently, representatives from different Christian communities headed by Anil Joseph Thomas Couto (Archbishop Delhi) met the President on Thursday and expressed their concern over the incidents. A group comprising Archbishop Anil Kuto, Bishop Subodh Mandal and Paul Swarup called on the President. The delegation has said in its petition to the President that major attacks are taking place in Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh,” said the Archbishop to ANI.

He also alleged that a small group was responsible for the attacks and that Christians were protesting in large numbers against the atrocities. About 25,000 Christians from Delhi NCP protested at Jantar Mantar, according to Bharanikulangara. He further described the delegation’s interaction with the President and said that they shared the view of India as a country with secular values.

“Australian missionary Graham Stein and his family were neighbors in Odisha. The delegation also said that the President recalled during the meeting that his assassination had hurt her. Christian churches are hoping that the attacks in north India will lead to central intervention once Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Church is discussed,” he said.

Bharanikulangara stated that the memorandum had been sent to the Prime Minister and Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Speakers, with the hope of securing a meeting with them soon.

“We have shared the memorandum online to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Speaker, and we hope that soon we will be able to fix a meeting with them,” he said.