Archbishop of Bengaluru Peter Machado on Saturday urged the government to withdraw the anti-conversion bill, saying it “will not bring good to anyone.”

He said he had “faith in God and faith in government.” Machado addressed reporters at the Assembly for Peace in the premises of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral organized by the All-Karnataka United Christian Forum for Human Rights (AKUCFH).

“I have faith in God and faith in the government. The government should know that we are hurt and the feeling of hurt is the feeling that the government does not trust us and that is not a good thing. I ask the government to withdraw it (anti-conversion bill) because it will not benefit anyone, ”Machado said.

He said they have informed the government that there is no forced conversion. “If anyone wants to join us, we cannot kick them out and we will surely follow the rules and regulations of the country,” Archbishop Machado said.

In Belagavi, the community plans to hold a hunger strike for the winter session of the state legislature.

They also submitted a memorandum to the government saying, “Today there are enough documents to show that the persecution of Christians is taking place in every state and every Union territory in India. The proposed law will only make the situation worse. conversion is a very exaggerated subject. Many of our BJP leaders have studied in Christian schools and have chosen Christian hospitals for medical treatment. None of them were forcibly converted. “

Chief Congresswoman and former Union Minister Margaret Alva criticized the BJP-led government in Karnataka for pushing the anti-conversion bill. “We must all unite and fight it. This is an attack on the Constitution of India. We are all Indian citizens and we know our rights. We are not protesting as Christians. All communities have come together. and protest against this unconstitutional bill, ”she said.

BELAGAVI POLICE TELLS CHRISTIANS TO AVOID PRAYER MEETINGS TO AVOID ATTACKS

After several attacks on prayer rooms in Belagavi district, police asked a section of practicing Christians to avoid meetings until the end of the winter session of the Karnataka Assembly.

The Archbishop of Bengaluru, Peter Machado, told India Today TV that normally the attacks would take place inland, but now also occur in cities. He believes that a certain attitude of the government that this is allowed and tolerated leads to these attacks on Christians.

Regarding the Belagavi police asking Christians to avoid going to prayer meetings, he said, “If you take away our faith, then there is no point in what we are doing. This message from the Karnataka police is not the way. They would have to strengthen every church … That would give credit to the government. ‘