Church delegation meets minister for release of Rev Khanna

Seeking help for the release of Rev CM Khanna, a delegation of church leaders on Wednesday met with Minister of State for Home, Mullapally Ramachandran.

The delegation, that included Rev Dr Roger Gaikwad, general secretary of the NCCI, and Alwan Masih, general secretary of the Church of North India Synod, met Ramachandran and handed over a memorandum demanding the immediate release of Rev Khanna who heads the All Saints Church in Srinagar.

Rev Khanna was arrested last week by the Jammu Kashmir police and accused of forceful conversion of Muslim youth in the Valley. However, both Khanna and Bishop PK Samantaroy of the CNI Amritsar diocese have denied the allegations.

"The whole Christian community feels humiliated because a religious leader like Rev Khanna has been treated in a manner so undignified. The charges of forcible conversion are totally baseless and false," said CNI general secretary Alwan Masih.

The Church of North India General Secretary has written to the President of India and the Prime Minster appealing for their intervention in this matter and the immediate release of the pastor.

The Church of North India is one of the member Churches of the National Council of Churches in India. "The NCCI expresses its support and solidarity with Rev Khanna and the Church of North India at this time of trial and tribulation and demands his immediate release," said Dr Roger, who heads the ecumenical body that unites Protestant and Orthodox churches.

Showing support for the persecuted pastor was well-known Anglican bishop Michael Nazir-Ali who said he knew Rev Khanna personally.

"I am astonished that such a person can be arrested by an India committed to religious freedom and democracy," said the former Bishop of Rochester.

"I call not only for his immediate and unconditional release but also for protection for him and his family."

A video surfaced last month in which Khanna is allegedly shown baptising at least six Muslim youth.

Following protests at many places in the Valley, the Kashmir police registered a case under section 153 A and 295 A, and arrested the pastor during interrogation.