Kottayam: Orthodox Church head Baselios Marthoma Mathews III Catholicos strongly criticised the RSS and the ruling establishment over attacks against Christians in north India. He made the remarks during an event at St Mary’s Orthodox Church at Panayampala here.

The Catholicos said it is a fact that RSS-affiliated organisations such as the VHP and Bajrang Dal are attacking Christians and religious minorities. “After nuns, priests are being targeted. Christmas celebrations outside churches are being disrupted. Next, attacks may even take place inside churches,” he warned.

He said it is the responsibility of those in power to rein in religious extremists. Religious freedom cannot be denied to anyone. However, when rulers remain silent and fail to condemn such acts, Christians can only understand this as part of their plan. Everyone knows that silence amounts to acceptance. “The attackers say foreign religions should not exist in India. In the US, Trump often says ‘America for Americans’. This is a similar campaign,” the Catholicos said.

Following the speech, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar and his team met the Catholicos. The BJP said the visit had been pre-scheduled.

‘Hindus too migrated to India’

The Orthodox Church head further stated that Hindus too are people who migrated and settled in India.

“The RSS says foreigners should not be allowed here. How wrong this is. Before Christ, around 2000 BC, Aryans migrated here from Iran. After establishing Brahminical forms of worship, Hinduism emerged. There is not a single Aryan or Hindu born and raised in India; all came from the Iranian region,” he said.

He added that the Indus Valley civilisation existed here earlier and was formed through the Dravidians around 4000 BC, and that they too were not originally from this land.

“Christians have lived here since AD 52. We are citizens of this country. There are no Christians here from Israel or Arab nations. We belong to this land. Muslims are the same. Saying that foreigners should leave is ignorance. When a ruling establishment celebrates that ignorance, minorities will be marginalised,” he said.

“If the RSS slogan is ‘India for Hindus’, it will not succeed here. Christians have no hesitation in becoming martyrs for this,” the Catholicos added.