'Don't believe Pranab Mukherjee made those statements': Catholic Bishops’ body condemn Mohan Bhagwat's remarks

New Dehi: A Catholic Bishops’ body on Thursday condemned the remarks of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat that former President Pranab Mukherjee was appreciative of ‘Ghar Wapsi’ of tribals who converted to Christianity and said otherwise they would have turned “anti-national”.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) said they do not believe that Mukherjee made those statements and to them, it appeared to be a “diabolic, sinister and not genuine” remark as Bhagwat did not make the claim when the former President was alive.

At a function in Indore on Monday, Bhagwat said that Mukherjee while he was president told him that tribals would have become anti-nationals if they were not brought back to Hindu-fold through the ‘Ghar Wapsi’ programme.

In a statement, the CBCI said calling tribals “anti-nationals” for “exercising their fundamental right” guaranteed under the Constitution exhibits the “hidden motive and malicious agenda”. 

“If at all the exercise of freedom of conscience by any sections of the society affects any political ambitions of the rich and the powerful, and questions the status quo in the society, should it be condemned by the violent acts of organised Ghar Wapsi programmes?” it said.

Referring to the CBCI statement, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha Derek O’Brien said the next step for the Bishops is to ask questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi why he has turned Christmas Day into 'Good Governance Day' and why he has weaponised FCRA to target institutions run by the Christian community.

He also said the Bishops should ask Modi why he is silent on Manipur ethnic violence, why he is encouraging and passing anti-conversion laws violating fundamental rights and why he is pushing the Wakf (Amendment) Bill and playing the minority versus minority in Kerala.

O'Brien also wanted questions like why Modi was not condemning hate speeches and communal slurs.