A bishop from an influential Christian Church in Kerala has cautioned that India is quickly losing its fundamental character, cited a Biblical instance to denounce attempts to divide minorities and called for a cross-party and interfaith rainbow collective to save the country like the way humanity had closed ranks against Covid-19.

“The biggest issue we are facing is that we are quickly losing India’s fundamental character,” the Metropolitan of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Bishop Yuhanon Mor Meletius of the Thrissur diocese, told journalist Sunitha Devadas in one of the most outspoken and comprehensive interviews by such a senior clergyman in recent memory.

The candid comments by Bishop Yuhanon come at a time Kerala is witnessing a phenomenon called “Chrisanghis”, a portmanteau denoting Sangh parivar sympathisers among Christians.

Hardliners among a section of Christians have been seizing on inflammatory comments by Muslim radicals to whip up Islamophobia amid charges that the flames are being fanned by the BJP, which has so far failed to gain little more than a toehold in Kerala where India’s ruling party has no MLA or Lok Sabha MP.

Critics accuse the BJP of dealing its last card and trying to drive a wedge between the minorities and tilt the delicate electoral balance with the majority community in the hope of winning some seats where Christians can make a difference. The perils of the purported game plan were on full display recently when a Christian politician made wild charges against the Muslim community from a Sangh parivar platform.

It is against such a backdrop and amid a perception that not all Christians have denounced the politician unequivocally that Bishop Yuhanon has given the interview to the YouTube channel of Devadas, who is based in Canada.

The bishop’s message was by no means limited to Kerala or local developments but it was an appeal to public figures, including Mamata Banerjee and M.K. Stalin, across the country.

“I must say with great sadness, and some fear, that the future of India is looking dangerous with a weakening Opposition, and with the minority communities from Kerala that can act like the Opposition not doing anything,” the bishop said.

But the bishop said he drew inspiration from the defeat of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 2004. “We all know how the Vajpayee government lost its shine when it faced elections riding on the ‘India Shining’ slogan,” he said.

“I still believe that some kind of collective will take shape and make a difference. It’s up to the Congress to decide how much of a help it can be…. Every small and big power that believes in democracy — and not necessarily believers but just people with humanity — should help.”

The bishop drew a parallel with the global battle against the pandemic.

The bishop said: “Covid was initially feared as something that would wipe humankind out. But vaccines were developed in record time and the world took preventive action to weaken it. Extremism too is like that."

Asked how minorities should respond now, the bishop said: “On the basis of what is happening in north India, Christians here (in Kerala) have the potential to build a fortress of resistance…. If it takes shape here, naturally it will have its impact in north India, too.”

Bishop Yuhanon cited the example of the Goa governor (a former BJP leader who hails from Kerala) treating the clergy from Kerala to high tea occasionally, adding: “The objective is to keep us silent. If we speak, perhaps there is an assumption that the whole of India may hear us and this may lead to a reduction in what is unfolding in north India….

“The potential exists for Christians in Kerala…. Muslims who do not support extremism have an opportunity to form a strong platform, a collective. But if events like the sloganeering (a child raised incendiary and communal slogans at a march dominated by Muslim hardliners in Kerala recently) take place, it will be counter-productive.”

The bishop added: “There are possibilities… of launching (a collective or coalition) here and then spreading its reach to north India, to Karnataka. I feel this is what prudent minorities should do.”

He regretted that the Church was making no serious effort in this direction. “Nothing serious is happening. Everyone is trying to protect their boundaries and to that end (are ready) to please anyone.”

Devadas, the interviewer, later told The Telegraph: “Beyond criticising Hindutva and the Christians like P.C. George (the politician who made the irresponsible speech), the bishop calls for a larger Christian solidarity with the marginalised, beyond the confines of one’s own religion. He is aware that the Sangh parivar’s newfound love towards Christians in Kerala is hypocritical as it is during the same time that violence against Christians is increasing in states like Karnataka. His focus is on a rainbow coalition against forces that try to divide us.”

Bishop Yuhanon said Mamata, Stalin and Pinarayi Vijayan (chief ministers of Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, respectively) had the ability to forge alliances with secular politicians to save the country from a grim future.

“These are the three leaders who have consistently taken on the Prime Minister. I can’t say if (Delhi chief minister Arvind) Kejriwal would come close to them…. These three leaders can make a difference if they stand united and get the help of leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav.”

The bishop differed with the Prime Minister’s view that a common “culture” is the defining feature of being an Indian. “It’s not like that…. It’s not cultural nationalism but political unity that is prevalent here, based on political principles such as justice, peace, democracy, freedom. Instead, he has deliberately used the word ‘culture’….”

Asked how long Kerala’s Christians can stay safe from the Hindutva forces, so active in neighbouring Karnataka, the bishop sounded a warning for Christians who are tilting towards Right-wing forces.

“I must say that Christians (of Kerala) are moving on a suicidal path. I don’t think the Sangh parivar can take the Christians on that easily in Kerala. But I have no doubt that (one day) Kerala will also see what we now see in north India,” he said.

“It is very sad that everyone is only bothered about the safety of their own surroundings. Those who whipped up an issue over a movie (Esho, Malayalam for Jesus) did not do anything when Stan Swamy was killed. I am deliberately saying ‘killed’.”

Swamy, 84, a Jesuit and tribal rights activist from Jharkhand who suffered from Parkinson’s Disease, died waiting for bail nine months after being arrested in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case. Kerala’s Christian establishment had faced charges of being largely silent during reports of his ill-treatment in a Navi Mumbai jail.

Asked about the BJP projecting P.C. George, a former MLA who was arrested (he is out on bail now after spending a night in jail) for the speech, as a representative of the Christian community, the bishop minced no words.

“I have a little difficulty in seeing George as a Christian,” the bishop said, airing his personal opinion. He referred to how Jesus Christ had told his disciples that his aim was to liberate, not destroy, opponents.

“He (P.C. George) is known by the name of someone who had accepted and embraced everyone, beyond all barriers. In that sense, I have strong doubt whether he deserves to be called a Christian,” the bishop said and narrated the parable in which St George slew a monstrous creature to help everyone and described how he was martyred for not giving up his beliefs.