Catholic head meets Rajnath

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India president Cardinal Oswald Gracias met Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday and discussed various issues concerning Christians in the country.

A Home Ministry official described the 20-minute meeting as a “courtesy call” by the Cardinal, who has recently taken over as the president of the CBCI, the apex decision-making body of the Indian Catholic Church.

However, sources said, the Cardinal talked to the Home Minister about a number of issues which have been matter of concerns for the community.

The meeting comes in the wake of the Cardinal’s comments that there was “growing anxiety” among minority communities “because the government is not acting enough” to protect them.

He had also said there had been “more attempts” to polarise society in the past four years. The Narendra Modi government assumed office four years ago.

Archbishop of Delhi Anil Couto had also said a “turbulent political atmosphere” had been prevailing in the country. The Archbishop had also appealed to launch a prayer campaign ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Reacting to the Archbishop’s comment, the Home Minister had said that India does not discriminate against anyone on the basis of religion or sect, and such things will never be allowed in the country.