RSS-Linked Magazine Shifts Focus to Catholic Church Land Holdings After Waqf Bill Passage

New Delhi,5 April 2025: A recent article published on the web portal of Organiser, an RSS-linked magazine, has sparked controversy by claiming that the Catholic Church in India owns approximately 7 crore hectares of land, making it the largest non-governmental landowner in the country. This assertion comes on the heels of the successful passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Parliament.

The article, titled "Who has more land in India? The Catholic Church vs Waqf Board debate," suggests that the Catholic Church's land holdings surpass those of the Waqf Board, which manages Muslim endowments for religious, educational, and charitable purposes. According to the Government Land Information website, the Indian government owns approximately 15,531 square kilometers of land, while the Waqf Board's holdings are significant but do not exceed those of the Catholic Church.

The article estimates the total value of the Catholic Church's properties in India to be around ₹20,000 crore, making it a substantial player in the country's real estate landscape. The majority of the land acquired by the Catholic Church was obtained during the British period, with some allegations suggesting that these acquisitions were made through "questionable means".

The RSS-BJP has historically targeted Christian missionaries, accusing them of using allurement and coercion to convert people to Christianity. However, this issue has been largely set aside in recent times as part of a poll strategy to woo Christian voters in northeastern states, Kerala, and Goa.

The article also references a 1965 circular issued by the Indian government, which stated that land granted on lease by the British government would no longer be recognized as Church property. However, due to poor enforcement, the legitimacy of certain Church-owned lands remains unresolved.

Courtesy: Telegraph