CBCI Questions Mohan Bhagwat's Claim on Pranab Mukherjee's Quote

New Delhi, January 17, 2025: The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) has condemned a recent statement attributed to former President Pranab Mukherjee, allegedly made to Mohan Bhagwat, the chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). 

The statement, published in the Indian Express on January 15, 2025, claims that Mukherjee warned that Adivasis would turn anti-national if they didn't undergo "Ghar Wapsi" (a program aimed at converting non-Hindus to Hinduism).

The CBCI has expressed shock and outrage over the publication of this statement, calling it a "fabricated personal conversation" with "vested interests."

The organization has questioned the timing and intentions behind Bhagwat's revelation, asking why he didn't speak out while Mukherjee was still alive.

The CBCI has also denounced the RSS's "Ghar Wapsi" programme, labelling it a "violent" and "anti-national" activity that curtails the freedom of conscience of economically deprived tribals. The organization has expressed concern that such programmes, and the false propaganda surrounding them, can divide communities and incite violence.

The Catholic community in India, which makes up 2.3% of the population, has felt "extremely hurt" by these developments.

 The CBCI has called upon the media, political leaders, and parliamentarians to condemn this divisive politics and promote a pluralistic and secular ethos.

In a statement, the CBCI said, "We hold Pranab Mukherjee in great esteem for his contribution to the nation and his respect for India's pluralistic and secular fabric. We do not believe that he made this statement, and we condemn the manner and contents of its publication."

By Fr. Suresh