An archbishop who had sparked an uproar by offering to help the BJP bag a Lok Sabha seat in Kerala in exchange for a higher rubber price has lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the failure to reign in the violence in Manipur and protect Christians, calling it “deplorable” and “unheard-of irresponsibility”.

Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany of the Archdiocese of Thalassery termed the ongoing violence an “ethnic cleansing” of Christians, who make up 41 per cent of the population of the northeastern state, and asked Modi if he would be able to repeat his claim in the US that there was no religious discrimination in India.

“When such an ethnic cleansing is happening in our country, our Prime Minister told the American Congress that there is absolutely no discrimination in India,” Pamplany told a solidarity meeting in Kannur, north Kerala, on Wednesday. Modi had, in fact, said this in response to a reporter’s query at a joint press conference with US President Joe Biden in Washington.

“Honourable Prime Minister, what we have to ask you is that other than telling the American Congress (press conference), can you keep your hand on your chest and tell the suffering Christians of Manipur that there is no religious discrimination in this country?”

Pamplany had kicked up a storm by openly offering a Lok Sabha seat with the support of Kerala’s Christian minority in exchange for a minimum support price of Rs 300 for rubber, which many in the community cultivate. The government has not taken any steps yet.

Pamplany on Wednesday reminded the Prime Minister that the people would not believe his words spoken in America against the backdrop of the brutal killings and attacks on minorities.

“In a country where many are being brutally killed like mad dogs, our honourable Prime Minister, you can go to America and say (what you said). But not a single individual from the minority communities will believe your words,” Pamplany cautioned.

Minorities, he reminded, are under attack not just in Manipur.

“The same thing is happening in several places in north India. When Christians and our Muslim brothers are becoming victims of extreme discrimination and mob attacks, those responsible for controlling such situations are merely becoming spectators,” Pamplany said.

He condemned the lack of response from the Union and state governments despite cries from across the country. “Neither the honourable Prime Minister nor others responsible have even condemned, or tried to reign in the attackers, in spite of cries from across the country to protect constitutional norms and minority rights. This is not only deplorable, but also unheard-of irresponsibility.”