Naveen and Firoz Mirza , Hindustan Times
Bhopal, April 15, 2011
A police circular in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh seeking detailed
profiles of Christians and churches in the state has been withdrawn
after protests from members of the minority community.
State chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday sought a report
on the circular issued on March 23. This is the first time such a
circular was issued in Madhya Pradesh.
The controversy caused by the circular surfaced at Ashtra town in
Sehore district when a police official allegedly threatened a
Christian priest who declined to give information sought through the
circular. “The officer threatened to take me to the police station
when I refused to provide details,” said Father Francis Scaria of the
Ashtra parish.
The police top brass claimed ignorance about the circular even though
the state police headquarters issued it to all police stations,
seeking information on the financial status, political leanings and
sources of funding of churches and their staff.
Director general of police SK Rout reportedly did not know about the
circular till Wednesday when a delegation of Christians brought it to
his notice.
Rout told HT, “All district police units have been directed not to
collect any such information.” The circular had triggered alarm and
anger among Christians, who viewed the order as a prelude to
unleashing organised violence on the community.
Bhopal’s Archbishop Leo Cornelio, who heads the Catholic Church in the
state, said, “It is a conspiracy against Christians in Madhya
Pradesh.” He said similar profiling was done in Gujarat, where
Christians were targeted in religious violence in some districts
between 1999-2000.
Father Anand Muttungal, spokesperson of Catholic Church, Madhya
Pradesh, said the circular violated the community’s fundamental
rights. It betrayed the anti-Christian bias of the state government,
he said.