National Christian Council (NCC) West Bengal Chapter Delegation Meets Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal
30 July 2026
The National Christian Council (NCC) West Bengal Chapter delegation met the Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal today at Raj Bhavan in a cordial and constructive atmosphere. The delegation arrived at Raj Bhavan at 12:00 noon and, following a tea reception hosted by Raj Bhavan, held a detailed discussion with the Hon’ble Governor on issues concerning the Christian community in West Bengal.
The delegation consisted of Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Singh, State President; Rev. Dr. Arpan Rana, State General Secretary; Rev. Abhijit Shome, Joint Secretary; Rev. Kaushik Maitra, Working President; Fr. Rev. Ritesh Kumar, Vice President; and Rev. Dr. Dilip Jana, Vice President.
At the beginning of the meeting, the delegation honored the Hon’ble Governor by presenting a bouquet, an honorary stole, and a Holy Bible as a token of respect and appreciation.
The meeting commenced with Rev. Kaushik Maitra, Working President of NCC West Bengal Chapter, introducing the National Christian Council and briefing the Hon’ble Governor about its objectives, activities, and role in promoting unity, cooperation, constitutional rights, and social harmony among various Christian denominations and communities across West Bengal.
The Hon’ble Governor then invited the delegation to share the present situation of the Christian community in the state. Responding to this, Rev. Dr. Arpan Rana, State General Secretary, presented a detailed account of several concerns affecting churches, pastors, and Christian believers in different districts of West Bengal.
He highlighted recent incidents of attacks on churches, disruption of worship services, intimidation of believers, and attempts to interfere with the peaceful practice of the Christian faith. Particular attention was drawn to the recent incidents of church vandalism in South 24 Parganas. Upon hearing these concerns, the Hon’ble Governor strongly condemned all acts of vandalism and attacks on churches and emphasized that such incidents are unacceptable in a democratic and secular society.
Rev. Dr. Arpan Rana further informed the Hon’ble Governor about difficulties faced by several churches in Purba Medinipur district, where church activities have allegedly faced various forms of obstruction. He also raised concerns regarding a Christian-run school in Katwa that was reportedly directed to remain closed for thirty days, requesting that the rights and functioning of minority educational institutions be protected.
Another significant issue brought before the Hon’ble Governor was the increasing interference in ordinary prayer gatherings conducted by Christian families in their homes. Rev. Dr. Arpan Rana stated that in several places, anti-social and radical elements have entered such prayer meetings and falsely accused participants of forceful religious conversion activities, creating unnecessary tension and fear among believers. He further noted that even when police authorities are informed in advance, there have been occasions where law enforcement personnel were present but appeared unable to take effective action to prevent disruptions. As a result, many Christian families feel vulnerable and insecure while exercising their constitutional right to worship.
The delegation also raised the case of Rev. Anup Ghosh from Paschim Medinipur. Rev. Dr. Arpan Rana informed the Hon’ble Governor that during a marriage blessing ceremony held at a church, certain anti-social individuals allegedly entered the premises and created disturbances. Following the incident, serious criminal charges, including an allegation of attempt to murder, were filed against Rev. Anup Ghosh, and he remained in custody for a considerable period without being granted bail. The delegation requested a fair, impartial, and transparent approach in handling such cases and emphasized the importance of ensuring justice through due legal process.
Rev. Dr. Arpan Rana also brought forward an important social and cultural concern. He explained that Christians in West Bengal are an integral part of Bengali society and deeply cherish the Bengali language, literature, traditions, and cultural heritage. However, there have been instances where some individuals question why Christians participate in or follow Bengali cultural traditions. Such attitudes create unnecessary pressure on the Christian community. He emphasized that religious identity and cultural identity are not contradictory and that one can proudly be both a Bengali and a Christian. The delegation appealed for the preservation of West Bengal’s long-standing tradition of pluralism, inclusiveness, and cultural harmony.
In response to the concerns raised, the Hon’ble Governor reaffirmed that India is a secular nation governed by a Constitution that guarantees every citizen the freedom to practice, profess, and propagate their faith peacefully. He stated that churches have every right to conduct their religious activities within the framework of the law and assured the delegation that the concerns presented during the meeting would be brought to the attention of the appropriate authorities.
The Joint Secretary of NCC West Bengal Chapter, Rev. Abhijit Shome, then raised two important issues. First, he requested the establishment of designated Christian burial grounds in every district of West Bengal, noting that many Christian families continue to face challenges during funeral and burial arrangements. Second, he highlighted the need to ensure that government welfare schemes and benefits intended for minority communities effectively reach deserving beneficiaries. The Hon’ble Governor assured the delegation that these matters would also be given due consideration.
State President Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Singh proposed the creation of a Quick Response Mechanism to provide immediate administrative assistance whenever churches or Christian communities face attacks, threats, or emergencies. He stressed the importance of having a reliable system through which churches can seek prompt help during critical situations. The Hon’ble Governor acknowledged the significance of the proposal and agreed to consider the matter.
Fr. Rev. Ritesh Kumar requested that the Hon’ble Governor consider attending major Christian religious, social, and cultural events in the future whenever invited. He noted that such participation would strengthen goodwill, mutual respect, and communal harmony across society.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Rev. Dr. Dilip Jana and Rev. Kaushik Maitra expressed their sincere gratitude to the Hon’ble Governor for granting the delegation an opportunity to present the concerns of the Christian community. They expressed hope that the discussions would contribute positively toward addressing the challenges faced by Christians in West Bengal.
The meeting concluded in a warm, respectful, and constructive atmosphere. The NCC West Bengal Chapter believes that the Hon’ble Governor listened attentively to all matters presented and appreciated the concerns and aspirations of the Christian community.
The National Christian Council (NCC) West Bengal Chapter expresses its gratitude to Almighty God for the successful meeting. The Council also extends heartfelt thanks to pastors, church leaders, believers, prayer partners, and well-wishers whose prayers and support contributed to the success of this important engagement.
