the goan I network
PANAJI
Describing Christians as peace-loving, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said he wanted the community to continue their work undisturbed and freely.
Singh also spoke of his beautiful experiences of the Christian Missionaries, when the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) Secretary General and Goan Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, along with Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma met him at his residence in New Delhi.
“The Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and I briefed the home minister about the various difficulties that the Christian communities and organisations were facing in different areas like the FCRA and other organisational matters,” said Bishop Mascarenhas, a member of the Pilar Fathers who hails from Camurlim-Salcete.
“We explained to the home minister the difficult situation through which Christians were going through in Jharkhand, where the Christian NGOs are feeling selectively targeted by authorities, specially through an investigation in the FCRA accounts of 88 NGOs, all of which are Christians.”
The bishop also told Singh that the they were very troubled that investigations were launched into the accounts of these NGOs by Anti Terrorist Squads, the State CID Department and the Income Tax Authorities.
“Sometimes, just 6 or 12 hours were given to present the accounts,” said Bishop Mascarenhas, while also briefing Singh about the difficulties faced by the Missionaries of Charity.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma also spoke very strongly on the need to attend to the fears and apprehensions of the Christian community. Bishop Mascarenhas, a former official in the Vatican before he was appointed bishop and sent to India, said Singh gave them a very patient hearing and assured all help. “He said the Christians community was peace-loving and he wanted them to continue their work undisturbed and freely.”
The CBCI secretary general wished the HM on Janmashtami, Birthday of Lord Krishna.
