Christians in Odisha Protest for Religious Freedom and Justice

Bhubaneswar, Odisha, June 10, 2025: Christians in nearly all 30 districts of Odisha staged peaceful protests on June 9, 2025, calling upon the central government to safeguard their religious freedom, end the ongoing persecution of their community, and address systemic discrimination faced by them in areas such as education and employment. Coordinated by the National Christian Front (NCF), the demonstrations culminated in the submission of memoranda to collectors in all districts of the state. The memoranda listed the various issues faced by Christians in Odisha.

In the state capital, Bhubaneswar, a delegation comprising Bishop Dr. Pallab Lima, head of the United Believers Council Network India (UBCNI) in Odisha; Jugal Ranjit, convener of the United Minority Forum–Odisha; and Amiya Pandav, a well-known writer-turned-politician, submitted a detailed memorandum to Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambapati, intended for delivery to the President of India. All three are members of the Central Committee of the NCF.

Speaking to Catholic Connect, Bishop Lima characterised the protests in Bhubaneswar as peaceful and highlighted the strong cooperation from local authorities and law enforcement officials. "The police were very cooperative this time. All the administration in Odisha, including the SPs, was quite supportive. They even assured us that if we noticed anything suspicious, we should inform them and they would take care of it," he said.

Key Demands Raised

Mr. Jugal Ranajit, who was part of the delegation that delivered the memorandum to the governor, outlined the crucial concerns raised in it during a telephonic interview with Catholic Connect.

"Among the key demands in the memorandum was the urgent need to halt targeted attacks on Christians in Odisha under the guise of forced religious conversion, false legal charges against pastors, and the vandalism of churches. The document also highlighted frequent disruptions of prayer services held by Christians across the state," Jugal said. 

A significant demand of the memorandum focused on the denial of burial rights to Christian tribal communities in the Navrangpura district of Odisha. The United Minority Forum–Odisha has documented at least 15 cases in the past year where Christian families living in villages in the district were prevented from burying their deceased on their own ancestral land.

Furthermore, the memorandum pressed for Dalit Christians to be granted Scheduled Caste (SC) status. "These communities have historically faced untouchability and are now doubly marginalised—first on the basis of caste, and then again due to their religion after converting to Christianity," Jugal emphasised.

The NCF also demanded proper implementation of OBC reservations, noting that the Odisha government's 11.25% reservation for OBCs is significantly lower than the Mandal Commission's recommended 27%. "This is a gross injustice, especially since many Christians in Odisha fall under the OBC category," Jugal added.

Police Inaction

Bishop Lima criticised the state police for their inaction on cases filed by Christians. He revealed that out of 32 First Information Reports (FIRs) filed by Christians in Odisha concerning attacks and harassment in recent months, none have resulted in legal action. He also cited 24 additional incidents of Christian persecution that were reported to the police but did not get formally registered as FIRs.

The bishop also added that the police often act on oral complaints from members of right-wing groups without investigation and harass Christians in the name of conversion. “That is illegal, and we have demanded it be stopped immediately,” Bishop Lima said.

The NCF plans to closely monitor the government’s response to the memorandum it has submitted before determining its next course of action. 

“We will wait to see how the authorities respond. If persecution continues and no preventive action is taken, we will organise larger protests across every village and town,” Bishop Lima warned, adding that continued inaction could be perceived as state-sponsored persecution.

By Catholic Connect Reporter