Rahul, Vijayan Cite Article to Say RSS Will Target Church Next
“It didn't take long for the RSS to turn its attention to Christians,” the Congress leader wrote referring to the article. “The Constitution is the only shield that protects our people from such attacks 3 and it is our collective duty to defend it,” Gandhi wrote.
New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday alleged that the RSS would target land held by the Catholic Church, after the passage of Waqf Bill.
They were reacting to an article in ‘Organiser’, said to be a mouthpiece of the RSS. The article was later removed.
In a post on X (Twitter), Gandhi shared the article and stated: “I had said that the Waqf Bill attacks Muslims now but sets a precedent to target other communities.”
“It didn't take long for the RSS to turn its attention to Christians,” the Congress leader wrote referring to the article. “The Constitution is the only shield that protects our people from such attacks 3 and it is our collective duty to defend it,” Gandhi wrote.
In a statement, Pinarayi highlighted an article that appeared in the RSS mouthpiece "Organiser," which he believes reveals the Sangh Parivar's ulterior motives. The article discusses the properties owned by the Catholic Church in the country and accuses the community of misusing schools and medical institutions for conversions. This piece has exposed the true mindset of the Sangh Parivar, which he argued is determined to promote majority communalism.
The Chief Minister noted that the article, which was later withdrawn, should be viewed as part of a broader strategy to systematically target and undermine minority communities one by one. Pinarayi called on all progressive, democratic, and secular forces in the country to unite in resisting the Sangh Parivar's attempts to create division.
The article titled "Who has more land in India? The Catholic Church vs Waqf Board debate" was later withdrawn by “Organiser” in the wake of the controversy.
The Organiser article alleged that much of the Church's land was acquired during British rule, facilitated by the Indian Church Act of 1927, which enabled large-scale land grants. It also raised questions about the legitimacy of these holdings, referencing a 1965 Indian government circular that stated land leased by the British would no longer be recognized as Church property, a directive the article claimed has seen weak enforcement.
Additionally, the RSS mouthpiece article alleged that Church-run schools and hospitals "lure" underprivileged individuals with free or affordable services while allegedly pressuring them to convert to Christianity. It cited cases where land owned by tribal and rural communities was reportedly transferred to Church-affiliated organizations following religious conversion—a charge the Church has consistently denied.
"The Church's institutions include 2,457 hospitals and dispensaries, 240 medical or nursing colleges, 28 general colleges, five engineering colleges, and more than 14,000 schools across India, making it a major player in the education and healthcare sectors. The total value of its properties is around Rs 20,000 crores."
