Dear Mr. Prime Minister Modi,
As an Indian citizen and as a Christian, I address this open letter to you.
You enjoyed a warm embrace from the Pope on June 14, 2024 at the G7 Summit at Apulia in Italy. On 23rd December, 2024 you attended a major Christmas program organised by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) and, thereafter, attended a Christmas Dinner. For Christmas 2025 you attended the morning service at the Cathedral of the Redemption in New Delhi.
I believe that those were not photo of occasions for you. On our part, these events were organised as part of honouring our nation’s Prime Minister on the occasion of our Christian feast in this secular India.
I stress ‘secular India’, because we expect from you and your governance assurance and commitment for the safety and security of our Christians who are citizen of this nation. Our Constitution is a secular constitution respecting all religions.
From the first Census of 1951 till the last census, the percentage of our Christian population has remained at 2.3. Where is the conversion effect? Even so, freedom ‘to profess, preach and practise’ one’s religion is a constitutional and fundamental right in this secular India. Yet, why are we attacked? Why we are not allowed to celebrate Christmas?
In this secular India we run elite schools where the children of your political colleagues enjoy elite education. Our health services even in remote rural areas benefit millions, irrespective of caste and creed. Our training centres and welfare programs do not distinguish between Hindus, Muslims or Dalits.
From the first Census of 1951 till the last census, the percentage of our Christian population has remained at 2.3. Where is the conversion effect? Even so, freedom ‘to profess, preach and practise’ one’s religion is a constitutional and fundamental right in this secular India. Yet, why are we attacked? Why we are not allowed to celebrate Christmas? Did you go to the Delhi Church to stop prayer services? Or, to preach harmony and peace?
Why are some fanatics on the run to kill us because we are Christians? Why are they telling us that this is Hindu Rashtra and we should not celebrate our Christian festivals? These things are happening under your very nose, before your very eyes.
Take us to the court if we are criminally at fault and if the courts are still functioning. Instead, we are thrashed, beaten, killed, our institutions are destroyed and our holy places are desecrated by people who take law into their hands. How do you remain silent in the midst of such criminal atrocities?
What has come to your police, the law courts?
Speak up Mr. Prime Minister. Act fairly to give the nation the assurance that you are fair minded leader of the nation. Or, are we to believe that you are helpless and are controlled by elemental forces that are taking the nation for a ride into the quicksands of Gehennum?
No, we don’t believe so even as matters are getting uglier. The world is watching you Mr. Modi. Let the ‘Viswa Guru in you’ take effect as a fair-mined administrator and leader. You can, if you believe in the sacredness of our Constitution.
When a room is burning, you don’t expect the inmates to crouch in the corner. The option will be to break open and get out!
- P. A. Chacko S. J.
