Kollam: The BJP’s Kerala unit has proposed granting micro-minority status to Christian communities. The proposal seeks to classify Christians, who constitute around 2.5 per cent of the country’s population, as a micro-minority and extend minority rights accordingly. The move is seen as an attempt to address opposition that has emerged among Christian groups against the proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).

The BJP has indicated that Christians would be considered a minority with a very small population share when compared with the country’s total population, and there is a possibility of opposition to the proposal from Hindu organisations within the Sangh Parivar.

The Syro-Malabar Church and the Catholic Congress had earlier come forward demanding micro-minority status, with the Church leadership raising the issue during a meeting with Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju a year ago. At the time, the BJP leadership had not responded proactively. However, it is learnt that the party has now approached its central leadership with the same demand, and following a favourable response, the promise was included in the NDA’s manifesto in Kerala.

The Church has strengthened its demand by pointing out that the Christian population has declined to below 2.8 per cent, an issue also raised by Church leaders during recent Christian outreach programmes conducted by the BJP.

Meanwhile, the BJP central leadership has maintained that there will be no conciliatory move on the FCRA issue, making it clear that the amendment Bill will be implemented as it is. However, efforts are under way to hold discussions with Church leadership ahead of the Assembly elections, although the central leadership has stated that there will be no change in the substance of the Bill even if talks are held.