People protesting against Waqf Amendment Bill
Christian MPs of the country have decided to support Muslims on the issue of Waqf Board. Christian MPs told the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) meeting that the Christian community should take a principled stand on the Waqf Bill as it affects the rights of minorities enshrined in the Constitution. CBCI, the highest body of Catholics in India, had called a meeting of all Christian MPs on 3 December. About 20 MPs participated in this meeting, most of whom were from opposition parties.
MPs attending the meeting included TMC parliamentary party leader Derek O’Brien, Congress MPs Hibi Eden, Dean Kuriakose, Anto Antony and CPI(M) MP John Brittas, while Union Minister of State George Kurian also attended the meeting later. Happened. The meeting, held after decades, was presided over by CBCI President Archbishop Andrews.
Discussion took place on these issues
The agenda of the meeting included the role of Christian MPs in supporting and protecting the community and its rights, increasing attacks and threats against minorities, especially Christians, and the misuse of the FCRA to target Christian institutions. The source said a senior opposition MP suggested the community’s leadership should also highlight “the positive points, the important role the community is playing today” and “not just be reactive to negative news.” One suggestion made was to inform the government and the public that three out of four students in Christian institutions are actually from different communities.
Objection to Waqf Amendment Bill
One MP said there needed to be a ban on “photographing”, and stressed that Christian leadership must take a stand to “call out those who do not protect the Constitution”. Another MP who attended the meeting confirmed that several opposition MPs raised strong objections to certain provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which is now under consideration of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). The Bill, inter alia, changes the composition of the Central Waqf Council and Waqf Boards to include non-Muslim members.
BJP MP did not reach
Another MP from Kerala said the issue of abolition of seats for Anglo Indians (all Christians) in the Lok Sabha and 10 state assemblies was also raised, and the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) license of some Christian organizations in recent years was also raised. Targeted and cancelled. The meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere, but the MPs sharply criticized the church leadership over its relations with the government since 2014. A leader who attended the meeting said that one MP even said that it had become ‘give and take’. The source said that by the time BJP leader and Union Minister Kurien arrived, most of the opposition MPs had spoken. Two BJP MPs, both of whom are Christians, were absent. The source said at least two MPs raised the issue of Thrissur Lok Sabha election result, where BJP’s Suresh Gopi won. (Input- PTI)
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