A circular from the office of the Visakhapatnam police commissioner asking police stations to take steps to prevent attacks on Christians and churches has led political uproar and protests.

The Bharatiya Janata Party leaders objected to the circular’s choice of words. They say the police should not have mentioned any community or place of worship by name.

The BJP leaders include former federal minister D Purandes-wari and legislator PVN Madhav.

The commissioner’s office issued the circular after a local pastor submitted a memorandum to the Andhra Pradesh State government, seeking protection for churches and Christians in the south-eastern Indian state. He alleged that right wing activists targeted Christians and their places of worship.

The police chief reissued the circular without referring to any community, but the BJP leaders remain unsatisfied.

Visakhapatnam police commissioner Rajeev Kumar Meena issued the circular on July 4 in response to a petition by B Daniel Shyam through the CM’s Praja Darbar and Spandana portal. The petition was sent to all the districts for necessary action.

The circular instructed station house officers in Visakhapatnam to conduct intensive patrolling by covering all churches and provide protection to them. He also instructed ACPs to visit all churches in their jurisdiction once a month, discuss with church elders on such activities and take preventive measures.

The memo irked BJP workers. “We will meet the chief minister on July 22 and tell him about the feelings of people of different religions. We will not leave this issue,” Madhav said.