Church mouthpiece slams BJP’s ‘double standards’ amid push to woo Christians in Kerala

As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intensifies its efforts to woo the Catholic community in Kerala ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, the Church has publicly raised concerns over what it calls the party’s “double standards” on the issue of Christian persecution.

An editorial published on Monday (July 14, 2025) in Deepika, the official mouthpiece of the Catholic Church in Kerala, highlights the growing number of attacks against Christians across India. The article, titled ‘Applauding the hunter while patting the prey?’ draws attention to these incidents in the backdrop of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent assertion that the BJP is preparing to take over power in Kerala in 2026.

Describing the “double standards” adopted by the BJP as “deeply humiliating”, the editorial accuses the party of promoting contradictory narratives. While BJP leaders in States with significant Christian populations, such as Goa and Kerala, present themselves as allies of the community, the same party is allegedly enabling Christian persecution in northern States, Odisha and Maharashtra, it pointed out.

“The latest of this alarming development is now unfolding in Maharashtra, where BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar has promised cash rewards ranging from ₹3 lakh to ₹11 lakh to individuals who attack Catholic priests and missionaries,” the article states.

“The State’s Revenue Minister, also from the BJP, has announced plans to introduce a stringent anti-conversion law. As a result, Christians in Maharashtra are now living in deep fear and anxiety. This is yet another example of the BJP’s strategy of stoking communal tensions and anti-minority sentiment for political gain.”

The editorial argues that the BJP’s political approach is two-pronged, which involves escalating majoritarian dominance while simultaneously eroding India’s democratic pluralism.

“Historical records show that Christian presence in Maharashtra dates back to 1321. The renowned Bombay Archdiocese was established in 1886. What irregularities is the BJP government suddenly finding in the functioning of such a long-established institution that is now in its 140th year? Likewise, the Kalyan Diocese of the Syro-Malabar Church, founded in 1988, has operated for more than three decades without facing any allegations,” the editorial states.

Report cited

Citing a report by the United Christian Forum, the article notes that 4,316 incidents of violence against Christians were recorded between 2014 and 2024. In 2024 alone, there were 834 attacks, compared to 127 in 2014, when Narendra Modi first assumed office as Prime Minister.

The editorial criticises the BJP for “remaining silent” on such rising attacks while simultaneously trying to court Christians in Kerala. “Before seeking the support of the Christian community, the BJP must first end its double standards and bring clarity to its stance on minorities,” the piece concludes.