Kochi: A major controversy has erupted in Kerala after an article in the RSS mouthpiece Kesari branded Christians as “traitors,” triggering sharp criticism from Deepika Daily, one of the oldest newspapers in the state with deep Christian readership. The newspaper has responded strongly on its front page, headlining the move as “RSS’s Planned Attack Against Christians,” and followed it up with an editorial denouncing the saffron organisation’s narrative.
The response from Deepika is notable both for its timing and tone. The paper not only carried a front-page headline condemning the Kesari article but also dedicated an editorial column to dissect what it described as the RSS’s deliberate attempt to stoke communal tension. The editorial openly questioned the intent behind the article and demanded that the BJP, as well as other political parties, clarify whether they support or reject the ideological attack launched by the RSS against Christians.
By calling out the editorial in Kesari, Deepika underscored that the issue cannot be brushed aside as a mere opinion piece but should be seen as part of a larger political design to create suspicion and division.
The storm began after Kesari carried a piece written by the Hindu Aikya Vedi’s state president. The article, which accused Christians of undermining the nation, has drawn intense criticism from multiple quarters. It alleged that Christians are attempting to provoke religious rivalry in India and even questioned their loyalty to the Constitution.
The article went so far as to cast doubts on the contributions of Christian missionaries in the fields of education, language, and culture, reducing them to acts of communal influence. Particularly controversial was its reference to religious conversions, which critics say exposes the hidden agenda of the RSS to justify anti-conversion laws.
In its strongly worded editorial titled “The Constitution Should Not Be Cut by Leaning on Christians”, Deepika accused the RSS of trying to undermine the secular framework of India. The newspaper demanded that the constitutional validity of anti-conversion laws enforced in various states be scrutinized, arguing that such legislation is often weaponized against minorities rather than genuinely protecting freedom of faith.
The editorial further warned that the language of the Kesari article was not accidental but carefully designed to spread hostility against Christians in Kerala and across northern states, where minority communities already face increasing pressures.
What has added another layer to the controversy is the conspicuous silence from Kerala’s church leadership. Neither the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC), which represents the Catholic Church, nor the Kerala Council of Churches (KCC), which unites non-Catholic episcopal churches, have made any official statement. Pentecostal groups, too, have refrained from commenting.
This silence has drawn attention, especially as Deepika historically aligned with the interests of the Christian community has openly taken on the RSS narrative while church leaders have chosen restraint. Observers suggest that the reluctance to speak may stem from political sensitivities, given the BJP’s attempts to build relationships with Christian communities in the state.
The clash between Kesari and Deepika comes at a time when the BJP has been working to expand its influence in Kerala, partly by courting Christian leaders. Critics argue that the article in Kesari undercuts those efforts, exposing the ideological contradiction between the BJP’s outreach politics and the RSS’s core narrative.
For Kerala, where communal harmony has historically been relatively stronger compared to other parts of India, the controversy has the potential to inflame new tensions if left unaddressed. Deepika’s open challenge to political leaders to confront the RSS’s mindset has further raised the stakes, demanding a response not only from the BJP but also from other parties that claim to defend minority rights.
As the debate intensifies, all eyes are on how Kerala’s political and church leadership will react. Will parties distance themselves from the RSS editorial, or will they maintain silence in fear of political backlash? And will church institutions break their silence to defend their community against what many see as a direct provocation?
For now, Deepika Daily stands as the lone institutional voice that has confronted the Kesari article head-on. Its sharp words have ensured that the issue cannot be quietly buried, bringing the question of religious freedom, communal rhetoric, and constitutional principles once again to the forefront of Kerala’s political discourse.