Indian Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas has personally asked federal Home Affairs Minister Rajnath Singh to intervene over the mistreatment of Christians and their organizations in eastern Jharkhand State. Bishop Mascarenhas, secretary general of the Indian Bishops’ Conference, met Singh at his New Delhi office on September 3.

The minister was briefed about difficulties being faced by the Christian minority.

Also present at the meeting was Conard K.Sangma, the Catholic chief minister of Me- ghalaya, a Christian majority state in north-eastern India.

Many Jharkhand Christians believe they are being unfairly targeted by a state government investigation of 88 Christian agencies over foreign donations.

The probes centre on India’s Foreign Contribution Regulation Act requiring that donations be received through a designated bank and spent only for specific social service undertakings.