Christians protest en masse after Indian lawmaker offers cash rewards for violence against pastors

People take part in a protest march against the ongoing ethnic violence in India's northeastern state of Manipur, in Ahmedabad on July 23, 2023. | SAM PANTHAKY/AFP via Getty Images

NEW DELHI — India’s Catholic bishops this week strongly condemned law enforcement for failing to prosecute a state legislator who publicly offered up to $12,663 USD (1.1 million rupees) for violent attacks on Christian leaders.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) expressed “deep anguish and alarm over the growing climate of hostility and violence directed against minority communities in the country” following Maharashtra state Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Gopichand Padalkar’s inflammatory offer and failure of police to respond. Padalkar is a member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In a press statement issued on Monday, the bishops referenced Padalkar’s June 17 speech in Sangli District, Maharashtra state, in which he said, “We should keep prizes for those who bash up missionaries coming to convert people. Rs 5 lakh (500,000 rupees or $5,756 USD), should be declared for the first person thrashing such a missionary, the second one to be given Rs 4 lakh (400,000 rupees or $4,605 USD), while the third one to be given Rs 3 lakh (300,000 rupees or $3,454 USD) as prizes.”

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