The Rashtriya Christian Morcha (RCM) successfully conducted simultaneous demonstrations across multiple states on 9 June 2025, protesting alleged violence and discrimination against Christian communities in India. The coordinated action saw participation from dozens of districts, with memorandums submitted to the President of India through local collectors.
Widespread participation across states
The protests spanned several states including Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. In Rajasthan, demonstrations took place in Bikaner, Pratapgarh, Banswara, Jalore, Sirohi, Ajmer, Karauli, and Bharatpur districts, with reports still coming in from other locations.
In Ajmer, protesters gathered at the District Collector’s office in the morning with support from allied organisations. Officials and workers assembled at 10 a.m. at the District Panchayat office and proceeded as a rally to submit their memorandum.
Significant turnout in Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh witnessed active participation across multiple districts including Bilaspur, Janjgir-Champa, Raigarh, Raipur, and Mungeli. In Raipur, over 200 believers—including Protestant and Catholic church fathers, sisters, and pastors—gathered at the Ambedkar statue site at Ghadi Chowk. The programme began with prayers by Father Sebastian Pumattam, followed by garland offerings at Dr Ambedkar’s statue. Rev. Sandeep Lal recited Psalm 82, and Rt. Rev. Dr Akhilesh Edgar led a collective reading of the Constitution’s preamble.
In Raigarh, over 300 believers from Protestant and Catholic churches participated in demonstrations at Ramlila Maidan. The state’s protests drew praise from Rev. Dharam Sai Sarthi, state vice-president of RCM Chhattisgarh, who thanked participants for their efforts and described the turnout as a powerful demonstration of strength against adversity.
Strong response in Odisha and other states
Odisha showed particularly robust participation, with protests in at least 15 districts including Bhubaneswar, Ganjam, Bhadrak, Gajapati, Khordha, Sambalpur, Nabarangpur, Sundargarh, Sonepur, Malkangiri, Koraput, Angul, Mayurbhanj, Cuttack, Kandhamal, Bargarh, and Keonjhar.
In Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, the rally proceeded from Ambedkar Bhavan at Deeg Gate through various city landmarks, with participants raising slogans such as “Stop atrocities on Christians,” “Stop attacks on churches,” “Conduct caste census,” and “Remove EVM – Save democracy.” The rally was led by Chhatrapal Singh Nishad.
Bihar also saw participation, with Rev. Dr Shambhu Kumar, RCM state president, submitting a memorandum to the ADM in Nalanda district.
Key demands and grievances
The memorandum submitted to the President detailed specific concerns including the Manipur crisis, where ethnic and religious violence since May 2023 has resulted in over 250 deaths, the destruction of more than 360 churches, and the displacement of 70,000 people. It also highlighted systemic legal and structural discrimination, such as the 1950 Presidential Order denying Scheduled Caste status to Christian converts, and the misuse of anti-conversion laws in states like Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh.
In Bhiwani, Haryana, Pastor Sunita, state president of RCM’s women’s wing, and state vice-president Surendra Bhola, pointed out that Christians make up 2.3% of India’s 140 crore population and have consistently upheld constitutional values. They cited United Christian Forum data reporting 834 incidents of violence and persecution in 2024, up from 734 in 2023.
Protesters demanded impartial investigations into all violence cases, a review of religious freedom acts to prevent misuse, directives to state governments to ensure religious equality, and expedited Supreme Court hearings on Scheduled Caste Christian reservation issues.
The memorandum also called for the establishment of a faith-based national commission for grievance redressal, mandatory rights-based training for police and government officials on minority protection, and stronger protective mechanisms for at-risk Christian communities, especially in high-incident states.
Organisational support and future action
The demonstrations were jointly organised by RCM and Bharat Mukti Morcha, with support from Rashtriya Pichhada Varg Morcha, Rashtriya Adivasi Ekta Parishad, and Rashtriya Muslim Morcha.
Bharat Ghoghre, Mahasachiv (General Secretary) of the Forum, praised the nationwide effort:
“The nationwide protest rally and memorandum programme against injustice and atrocities on indigenous Christians, organised jointly under the auspices of Rashtriya Christian Morcha and Bharat Mukti Morcha on 9 June 2025, was very successful at every district headquarters. First and foremost, thanks be to the living Father God and we give all honour and glory to Him! And heartfelt congratulations and grateful thanks to all of you—state and district presidents/coordinators and all pastors, fathers, reverends, bishops, and believers—for making the programme extremely successful!”
Leaders warned that if violence against Christians continues, a nationwide “Bharat Bandh” would be called on 1 July under the leadership of Waman Meshram, national coordinator of RCM and national president of BAMCEF and Bharat Mukti Morcha.
