India
BCP Delegation Meets West Bengal RSS Leader to Address Church Attacks
A delegation from Bangiya Christiya Pariseba (BCP), an interfaith forum representing Christians, met with senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Jishnu Saha on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. The delegation, led by BCP state secretary Herod Mullick, raised concerns about recent mob attacks on congregations and churches. They urged Mr. Saha to intervene to stop the ongoing hostilities. The BCP press statement highlighted a wave of attacks, vandalism and persecution targeting mainline churches, house churches, pastors and believers across several West Bengal districts over the past four to five months, often fueled by false allegations of forced conversions through inducement.
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Saha, the Saha Khetra Prachar Pramukh of South Bengal, said dialogue would continue with Christian organisations but expressed genuine concerns about forced conversions. He called for investigations into the attacks and allegations of forced conversion. The BCP delegation reiterated that the Church opposes any unlawful conversion practices and accepts and baptises only those who join willingly.
Mullick added that investigations should be conducted into incidents of violence and any attempts at forced conversions. He noted that many mob members who attacked churches identified themselves as members of Hindutva organisations. Christian organisations say attacks on churches and Christian gatherings have increased since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power. According to the U.S.-based research project India Hate Lab, at least 60 hate‑crime incidents against Christians were documented in West Bengal across 13 districts between May 13 and September 20 this year.
The BCP representatives expressed concern that the state administration has been unresponsive to the attacks. Earlier this week a public hearing of survivors of the mob attacks was held in Kolkata, where people from several districts shared their experiences of attacks and police inaction.
On Thursday, November 5, 2026, Christian organisations will hold a gathering in Kolkata. Participants from different districts will join, and three prayer processions will start simultaneously at 12:00 noon from Howrah, Sealdah and the Birla Planetarium, converging at R. R. Avenue for universal prayers.