The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India has urged political parties to support the Waqf Bill in parliament
Waquar Hasan | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – Christian rights activists have criticised the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) for supporting the Waqf Amendment Bill calling the decision “Islamophobia”.
In a statement issued here on Monday, the CBCI urged political parties to support the Waqf Bill in parliament.
“As the Waqf Amendment Bill is set to be introduced in Parliament, CBCI urges political parties and legislators to adopt an unbiased and constructive approach to this issue. The rightful ownership of land must be fully restored to the people of Munambam (in Kochi, Kerala). Any provisions or laws that contradict the principles of the Indian Constitution must be amended,” reads the statement.
The CBCI claimed that certain provisions in the existing Central Waqf Act are “inconsistent with the Constitution and the secular democratic values of the country”.
“In Kerala, the Waqf Board has invoked these provisions to declare the ancestral residential properties of more than 600 families in the Munambam region as Waqf land. Over the past three years, this issue has escalated into a complex legal dispute. The fact remains that only a legal amendment can provide a permanent solution, and this must be recognised by the people’s representatives,” it added.
Reacting to CBCI’s statement in support of the Waqf Bill, prominent Christian leader and rights activist John Dayal called it a display of ‘pungent Islamophobia.’
“Dear bishops, Eid is the wrong time to display pungent islamophobia. The Lenten season with its calls for forgiveness is not yet over,” he wrote on social media.
AC Michael, another Christian leader who often raises his voice against atrocities against his community in India, said the CBCI is busy supporting the present dispensation instead of raising its voice for the community.
“It is now a well-known fact that the Christians in India are facing two incidents of violence every day in India. The violence in India has been sharply increasing since 2014,” he said.
Pointing out figures related to the atrocities against Christians, Michael stated that according to the reports received on UCF (United Christian Forum) helpline service number 1-800-208-4545 there were 127 incidents in 2014, followed by 142 in 2015, 226 in 2016, 248 in 2017, 292 in 2018, 328 in 2019, 279 in 2020, 505 in 2021, 601 in 2022, 734 in 2023 and 834 in 2024. This year, 2025, in two months 120 incidents of violence against Christians have been reported from 16 states. January witnessed 55 incidents and February 65 incidents.
“And CBCI – Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India is busy supporting the present dispensation instead of speaking for its own community,” he noted.
Prominent rights activist, Prof Apoorvanand, said this embrace of evil will be fatal for the Christian community.
“The bishops must understand that this embrace with the evil will be fatal for them or is their Islamophobia more tempting?” he asked.
The CBCI has been close to the current dispensation. Its recent Christmas event was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In July, a delegation of CBCI met with Modi. The prime minister put out photos related to both events through his social media accounts.
