Q: It is reported that in the last six months 158 anti-Christian incidents have taken place and only 24 of them have been registered by an FIR. Do you suspect a condoning of violence? And above all, Bp Chacko, what do you think will be the future of democracy in India?

A: “Well, that is the result of the hate culture that is being propagated or promoted silently here in the country. You are seeing the direct fruits of what they have sawn. Police registered only 24 cases in the midst of political pressures not to register; it could be that the others are not registered because of manipulation in the police department. Democracy will bounce back in this country once the people in general come to know what is really happening. At present they wait for miracles to happen, for there is a lot of hype and a lot of diversion of attention taking place. This cannot be sustained for long. In the meantime, I hope people will see the reality. I think there will be a bouncing back of freedom and democracy in an atmosphere of fraternity. It is true the opposition parties are in disarray. They may take some time to realize the gravity of the situation, because, being too concerned about themselves, they get easily frustrated, which keeps them away from creating a common platform. Everybody is worried about their own party. They don’t go beyond themselves. I think they will come together and act in unison in the course of time.”

Bp Chacko Thottumarickal
Indore