Bengaluru: The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) strongly condemns the highly provocative and irresponsible statement of Shri Munna Kumar Shukla, General Secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha, as reported in the press on 23rd April, 2015.

The Standing Committee Meeting attended by 40 members including cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops, held from 22nd to 24th April, 2015 at St. John’s Medical College In Bangalore took a serious note of the highly objectionable and provocative statement and said, that the Christian community is greatly shocked and its susceptibilities are deeply wounded.

Shri Shukla’s contention that attacking a Church is not illegal and that it violates no law is highly untenable and contrary to standards, norms and laws of the land. The Hindu Mahasabha leader’s statement that Churches are no longer places of worship but factories for conversion of Hindus into Christianity is highly insinuating and derogatory. He further stated that the Central Government should protect and award the youth who attack Churches. He also claimed that the Taj Mahal was previously a Shiva Temple.

The Bishops observed that in recent times there has been an escalation of violence against Christians and other minorities together with highly unwarranted statements. All such attacks indicate a sinister pattern and evil design calculated to denigrate and defame the Christians, peace-loving and law abiding citizens of India.

During their deliberations the Standing Committee of the Catholic Bishops of India demanded that the Central and State Governments initiate swift action to put an end to such inflammatory and provocative statements; to halt of attacks on Christians and other minorities and to ensure that communal harmony and peace is not disturbed.