By Matters India Reporter
Kolkata, June 15, 2026: The Bangiya Christiya Pariseba (BCP), a united forum of denominational Christians in East and North-East India, has welcomed the new Chief Minister of West Bengal while voicing grave concerns over escalating hate campaigns and violence against the Christian minority.
In its official statement, the BCP expressed confidence that “under the new leadership, the minority Christian community will feel secure and enjoy religious freedom under Article 25 of the Constitution of India.”
At the same time, the forum condemned irregular baptism practices by certain pastors and churches, stressing that Christianity is not about “converting people for numbers or quotas.” Baptism, it emphasized, is a sacred ritual meant only for those who genuinely desire it, supported by an affidavit declaring voluntary conversion.
The statement warned of an alarming rise in anti-Christian propaganda.
“These campaigns are not isolated,” the BCP noted, “but part of an organized framework designed to maximize hate speech and translate it into real-world violence.” It lamented that local administrations often ignore requests to file First Information Reports (FIRs), leaving communities vulnerable.
A companion document from the BCP State Committee described how fake narratives and conspiracy theories are being weaponized to isolate Christians. Extremist social media accounts, it said, regularly propagate the false claim that Christianity is “contrary to Indian culture” or a “hidden agenda of Western powers.”
Even ordinary family prayer meetings are being secretly videotaped and circulated online with captions alleging “forced conversions.”
The impact has been devastating. “Aggressive mobs are increasingly raiding prayer venues under the pretext of busting ‘conversion dens,’” the report stated, adding that pastors and church members are being detained under baseless allegations.
Churches have been vandalized, graveyards desecrated, and families forced into self-censorship. “For the sake of their physical safety, many are now avoiding religious symbols and living under a painful form of self-imposed silence,” the committee observed.
The BCP also reminded readers of its wider institutional connections. As the United State Forum of All Denominational Christians, it is a partner of the All India Christian Council and the United Christian Forum, giving its voice national resonance and strengthening its appeal for protection and justice beyond Bengal and the North-East.
Despite these challenges, the BCP concluded its appeal with hope. “We place our utmost trust and faith in our new Chief Minister,” the statement read. “We humbly request him to personally look into these pressing issues and take strict, necessary action to restore a sense of safety, peace, and security among our peace-loving community.”
(Photo supplied)