Opposition members led by the Congress party staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha on Thursday, protesting the alleged attack on Catholic priests in Jabalpur that has triggered nationwide concern over religious freedom.
The parliamentary protest comes days after more than 1,000 Christians demonstrated in front of Jabalpur district police headquarters on April 1, demanding action against those who assaulted two Catholic priests and harassed pilgrims on March 31. The incident has rapidly escalated from a local confrontation to a national political issue.
According to reports, two buses carrying Christian tribals from Mandla district were intercepted by members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, while returning from a religious visit to a Church near the Bhawartaal Garden as part of the Jubilee 2025 celebrations. The passengers were forcibly taken to Ranjhi police station under allegations of conversion activities.
“The Hindu mob surrounded us and shouted slogans against us. Some from the crowd pushed us and slapped us,” Thomas told reporters on April 1.
Video footage of the incident that circulated on social media showed women slapping a priest and men shouting at the Christians. The officers eventually released the pilgrims and priests after dispersing the mob in the evening.
Manas Dwivedi, the officer in charge at the police station, refuted the allegations of religious conversion, stating, “There is no information regarding any conversion.” However, he indicated that “legal action will be taken if required.”
The protesters, who gathered at the district headquarters on April 1, also submitted a petition to the district collector, demanding action against those involved in the attack and other incidents targeting Christians in Madhya Pradesh. A Christian leader reported that the collector had promised to address their concerns.
Additional Superintendent of Police Suryakant Sharma assured the protesters that an impartial investigation would be conducted. “All parties involved will be interrogated, and the video footage will be thoroughly examined,” he said, promising that action would be taken within 24 hours.
Multiple Christian bodies have issued strong statements condemning the assault. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), in a statement released on April 1, called the incident “a shocking attack on religious freedom and human dignity.” The bishops urged Amit Shah, the federal home affairs minister, to “urgently intervene and ensure that the constitutional rights of the Christian community are upheld.”
The statement from the CBCI, which represents the Catholic community whose priests were attacked, further noted that the assault was “not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing pattern and strategy to create communal polarisation and hostility toward religious minorities.”
The Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI), the umbrella body for evangelical in India, also released a press statement on April 1 condemning the attack, responding to media reports of the incident. “The attack on senior clergy members inside a police station is deeply troubling,” said Rev. Vijayesh Lal, General Secretary of EFI. “We are concerned that such incidents undermine the constitutional protections guaranteed to all citizens and call for a fair and thorough investigation into the matter.”
In its statement, the EFI noted that allegations of forced conversion were contradicted by police officials at the scene, who found no evidence to support these claims. The organisation also highlighted that according to the Indian Constitution, tribal communities have the freedom to practice any religion of their choice while retaining their tribal identity and associated benefits.
The EFI called on the Madhya Pradesh government to conduct a fair investigation, the Ministry of Home Affairs to strengthen protections for religious minorities, and civil society leaders to foster dialogue promoting understanding between different faith communities.
Both religious bodies described the attack as part of a disturbing pattern of harassment and intimidation targeting religious minorities in India.
The incidents have caused significant political fallout, with opposition members led by the Congress party staging a walkout from the Lok Sabha on Thursday in protest. As the House convened, opposition leaders attempted to raise the issue, demanding a discussion, but Speaker Om Birla declined their request, prompting their exit.
In a separate but related development, a school in Jabalpur district was vandalised on April 1 by a right-wing mob that accused the principal, Akhilesh Mewan, of posting derogatory content about Lord Ram on social media. The protesters damaged property, tore posters, and smeared black paint on school walls during the three-hour demonstration, despite police presence.
