‘Cow Dung Force-Feeders’: Church Mouthpiece Hits Out at BJP in Poll-Bound Kerala

In an editorial piece titled ‘Cow Dung Force-Feeders’, published in the Church’s mouthpiece Deepika, the paper drew attention to the increase in violence against Christians in BJP-ruled states.

The Wire Staff

In an editorial piece titled ‘Cow Dung Force-Feeders’, published in the Church’s mouthpiece Deepika, the paper drew attention to the increase in violence against Christians in BJP-ruled states.

‘cow dung force feeders’ church mouthpiece hits out at bjp in poll bound kerala

St Joseph's Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Chennamkary, Kerala. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

New Delhi: The Catholic Church has strongly criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kerala as the saffron party tries to increase its reach in the Christian community ahead of the assembly elections in April.

In an editorial piece titled ‘Cow Dung Force-Feeders’, published in the Church’s mouthpiece Deepika, the paper drew attention to the increase in violence against Christians in BJP-ruled states.

The piece referred to an incident in Odisha where a pastor was allegedly forced to eat cow dung during a prayer meeting by rightwing goons.

“A group of anti-national elements left the scene shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ after forcing the pastor to eat cow dung,” the editorial said.

The piece also questioned the Union government’s silence on such incidents and said that they could be prevented if there was “political will”. Noting that such incidents had not occurred in Kerala, the piece urged for heightened vigilance nonetheless.

“Poisonous rhetoric prepares communal minds. Those who claim they will prevent communalism in Kerala have failed to curb such hate speech elsewhere,” the editorial said, adding that anti-conversion laws passed by BJP-led governments had emboldened Bajrang Dal activists.

A recent report by the India Hate Lab, which said that 88% of hate speech incidents against minority communities like Christians and Muslims were reported in BJP-ruled states, was also cited by the editorial.

The report also found a 41% increase in hate speech incidents against Christians. Up from 115 in 2024 to 162 in 2025.

An annual global study published by the US Holocaust Museum recently placed India fourth out of 168 nations assessed for the likelihood of mass violence.

Church authorities quoted by the Hindu said that attacks on Christians in North India had caused widespread anxiety among the Catholic community in Kerala.

This article went live on January twenty-second, two thousand twenty six, at twenty-eight minutes past eleven in the morning.

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