Why church leaders worries about anti conversion law in Maharastra
MUMBAI: The upcoming election presents challenging decisions for the minority Christian community in Maharashtra, particularly following Home Minister Amit Shah’s assertion that a BJP government will enforce the anti-conversion law and will not support quotas for minorities. Although major political parties in Mumbai have not nominated any Christian candidates, community leaders are encouraging members to participate actively in the voting process on November 20.
Cyril Dara, a core member of the NGO federation Samast Christi Samaj, remarked, “Anti-conversion laws target Christians, fostering an atmosphere where converting to a minority religion poses significant risks, and sharing the gospel can result in persecution.”
Bishop Allwyn D’Silva, who oversees the social apostolate of the Archdiocese, emphasized the importance of supporting parties that uphold the Constitution. “We need to awaken the public’s conscience regarding issues such as communal strife, growing economic disparity, unemployment, and various injustices, including the anti-conversion bill,” he stated.
Herbert Barretto, president of the Maharashtrian East Indian Christian Federation, expressed dissatisfaction with Congress, NCP, and both factions of Shiv Sena for neglecting the community during candidate selection.
Melwyn Fernandes from AOCC also voiced disappointment over the absence of Christian candidates on Congress’s list, despite the party’s professed commitment to secularism and the community’s loyalty.
Fr. Frazer Mascarenhas SJ, an educational administrator and Catholic priest, noted that Christians are increasingly motivated to vote due to rising violence against various groups, a perceived breakdown of law and order, and the misuse of laws such as UAPA and PMLA. Additional concerns include economic hardship, job scarcity, hate speech, and the decline of democratic institutions, including the media and judiciary, as exemplified by the cases of Prof. Saibaba and Fr. Stan Swamy.
