The Opposition Trinamul on Thursday targeted the BJP-led Assam government for the second time this week over a December 16 letter sent by the special branch of the Assam police to district-level officials seeking information on religious conversions and the number of churches in the state.

Trinamul national spokesperson Saket Gokhale on Thursday sent a representation to the Reverend Leopoldo Girelli, Apostolic Nuncio to India, Embassy of the Holy See of Vatican, about the development in Assam with an appeal to take up the issue with the BJP-led Centre.

Gokhale said this was a “clear case” of the Assam government “using” the police and intelligence-gathering department to “target and persecute not only the Christian clergy in the state but also people who have chosen to embrace the teachings of Lord Jesus Christ and convert to Christianity”.

His representation comes after a church was vandalised near Mysore in Karnataka on Tuesday. There were also attacks on Christians in Chhattisgarh early this month.

On Monday, the Meghalaya Trinamul had also slammed the Assam government over the letter, demanding answers “as to why” the state government was seeking such details.

The special branch’s letter had caused unease within the Christian community in the region and discomfited the Assam government, reflected in the reaction of Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who “completely” dissociated himself from the “unwarranted” letter. He also revealed he had already directed the state director-general of police to inquire and take “corrective measures”.

Around four per cent of Assam’s population is Christian while Meghalaya is a Christian-majority state.

The Trinamul national spokesperson representation said: “Through this representation, we wish to apprise you of this extremely serious issue in the state of Assam with an appeal to notify His Holiness Pontifex Maximus as well as The Holy See regarding this state-sponsored persecution of Christians and to take up this issue in the relevant diplomatic forums with the Govt of India as you may deem fit.”

Gokhale said the right to profess, propagate, and practise one’s faith is a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 25 of the Indian Constitution.

“Moreover, international law as well as the Geneva Convention recognise the right to freely practise religion and faith of one’s choice as a fundamental human right.”

Earlier on Monday, Meghalaya Trinamul VP George B. Lyngdoh flagging the issue had said: “Such nefarious activities are being undertaken in Meghalaya as well.”

Assam chief minister Sarma, who also holds the home portfolio, had said last Friday, “I think we should not ask for such kind of information, like how many churches (are there) in Assam. This might hurt the sentiments of a particular religious community.... We don’t want to have any survey on any church or, for that matter, on any other religious institution.”

Sarma had added: “In short, I completely dissociate myself from the letter. It was never discussed at any government forum. The letter is wholly unwarranted. As Assamese, as a citizen of Assam, we want to live in peace and harmony with all communities. I think the DGP will take corrective steps immediately.”

United Christian Forum of Northeast India and Assam Christian Forum spokesperson Allen Brooks, without naming Gokhale or the Trinamul, told The Telegraph that they do “not subscribe nor support” the letter seeking the intervention of the Pope through the Vatican Ambassador in Delhi “by a spokesperson of any political party”.