Several Christian missionary schools in West Bengal have expressed concern over alleged attacks on churches, pastors and prayer gatherings, and said they would seek a meeting with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat to appeal for the safety and security of the Christian community.
The concerns were raised at a consultative conference organised by the Bangiya Christiya Pariseba, a forum representing Christians across denominations, in collaboration with the West Bengal Association of Christian Schools at Don Bosco School in Siliguri on Saturday.
Representatives of prominent missionary educational institutions attended the meeting to discuss challenges facing the education sector and ways to improve academic standards.
One of the organisers said the representatives had been encouraged by Bhagwat’s recent remarks on pluralism during his visit to New York and wanted to seek his intervention to ensure the safety and dignity of Christians in West Bengal.
The conference took place amid reports of attacks on Christian prayer gatherings, churches and community members in different parts of the state.
Church in Nadia Allegedly Vandalised
An organiser alleged that St Louis Catholic Church in Jalalkhali, Krishnanagar, in Nadia district, was vandalised on Friday by a group of people over allegations of religious conversion.
The incident reportedly escalated into a confrontation. The allegations surrounding the incident have not been independently established.
The Bangiya Christiya Pariseba has previously raised concerns over alleged attacks on Christian prayer gatherings in several districts, including Dantan in Paschim Medinipur and Uluberia in Howrah.
The organisation alleged that worshippers and pastors had faced intimidation and physical assaults, with accusations of forced religious conversions frequently being cited by those disrupting the gatherings.
The group has also approached the National Human Rights Commission, the West Bengal Human Rights Commission and the National Commission for Minorities over what it described as repeated attacks, intimidation and inadequate administrative action.
An RSS spokesperson denied the allegations of threats to Christian schools and said the institutions had adequate security cover.
Missionary Schools Highlight Role in Education
At Saturday’s conference, representatives highlighted the contribution of Christian missionary institutions to education in India over more than two centuries.
They said these institutions had helped expand access to education, particularly for marginalised and underprivileged communities.
The meeting also focused on reviewing educational initiatives, assessing emerging global learning trends and identifying ways to bring academic standards in north Bengal in line with international benchmarks.
Organisers said the discussions would help shape a future roadmap for missionary schools in the region.
Concerns Over Proposed FCRA Amendments
The conference also comes amid a wider debate over proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, which governs foreign donations received by non-governmental organisations, trusts, educational institutions and religious organisations.
US Congressman Riley Moore, a Republican from West Virginia, had expressed concern over the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026. In a post on X, he alleged that the proposed changes could allow the Indian government to take over churches and religious charities.
The Bill proposes creating a Designated Authority empowered to manage foreign contributions and assets acquired using such funds when an organisation’s FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered or lapses because it is not renewed.
The proposed legislation also states that where such assets include a place of worship, the Designated Authority must ensure that its religious character is maintained.
The Bill further proposes reducing the maximum punishment for violations of the Act from five years’ imprisonment to one year.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, 13,520 organisations received foreign contributions worth ₹55,741 crore between 2019 and 2022.
Data on the FCRA portal showed that, as of July 15, 2026, India had 14,449 active FCRA registrations, while 22,498 registrations had been cancelled and 15,212 had lapsed due to non-renewal.
