- 16 September, 2026
Bengaluru, September 16, 2026: Archbishop Peter Machado of Bengaluru met AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge in Bengaluru to raise concerns of the Christian community in Karnataka, including the repeal of the state’s anti-conversion law and a separate 1% reservation for Christians.
“I came to know that Mr Mallikarjun Kharge, the president of the AICC, would be in Bangalore. So I requested an appointment with him to speak about Bangalore and also about our community,” Archbishop Machado told India Today following the meeting.
He identified the anti-conversion law enacted under the previous BJP government as one of the community’s pressing concerns.
“One of the pressing needs of Christians in Karnataka, which is troubling us, is the anti-conversion bill that was imposed in Karnataka by the previous government, the BJP government, some years ago,” he said.
“For centuries, Christians and minorities have been staying here. Minorities have been part of our culture and our traditions. We have had such beautiful harmony. And suddenly, in the last five or six years, the BJP has been forcing this, as if it is coming from somewhere else, and it is betraying the culture, the nature, everything of the country,” he said.
The delegation also sought action on the Congress party’s earlier promise to repeal the legislation.
“We wanted to impress upon Mr Kharge that the Congress, which is a secular party, had promised us at the time of the elections, when they took over from the BJP, that if they came to power, they would repeal this bill,” Archbishop Machado said.
He said the government had previously told him that it lacked the numbers in the upper house to repeal the law.
“They told me that they had a particular difficulty: they did not have the numbers in the upper house. They told me, ‘Have patience; we will surely take it up,’” he said.
“I had patience for three years, and now it is very clear that they have the numbers. In the last month, I think July or August, they got the required numbers and can easily do it. So please do it now to gain the confidence of the minorities, that what you promised, you keep up,” he said.
The delegation also requested a separate 1% reservation for Christians, citing difficulties faced by sections of the community in accessing employment and government benefits.
“We make this request on behalf of the community because there are many poor people. There are many people who cannot get employment or access the benefits that the government is offering,” he said.
Archbishop Machado said Christians are placed in the 3B category, while 1B also covers converted Christians. He said the existing arrangement makes it difficult for members of the Christian community to secure representation.
“We are placed in 3B, and as far as I know, there are so many major communities in that category that it is impossible for us to get even one or two small seats,” he said.
He cited a recent selection process for around 1,000 police constable positions as an example.
“I was told recently that there was an interview or selection process for about 1,000 police constables, and some other community got even 40, but we could not get even two or three,” he said.
“Out of 1,000, you can imagine: if there are 100, if there are 10, if there are 15, it is impossible to get,” he added.
Archbishop Machado proposed a separate reservation for Christians so that the community would not have to compete with other communities within the existing category.
“I said, perhaps, why don't you remove us from that community, give us a separate bracket and give us 1% so that we will be satisfied. We would not have to fight with anybody. We don't have to compete with anybody,” he said.
“And this is what I said in the interest of justice for our community,” he added.
Courtesy: India Today
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