India

The Muslim-majority territory disputed with Pakistan returned to the polls after ten years (and Modi’s unilateral repeal of its special autonomy under the constitution), with Omar Abdullah's National Conference winning the most seats. But Prime Minister Modi’s party proved opinion polls wrong and won a third consecutive mandate in the northern state next to Delhi, again beating the Congress.

Subhash Velingkar, a former local leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, is behind the request. This comes a month before the start of the ten-year exhibition of the saint's remains. Protests have followed. Fr Savio Fernandes, executive secretary of the Council for Social Justice and Peace, has called for social harmony. Several local politicians took legal action on the grounds that Velingkar’s remarks are offensive to religious sentiments.

Since September, the secondary school, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022, has been entrusted to the foundation linked to the Indian tycoon. The sisters explain the decision by emphasising the different values and aims compared to a group whose priority is ‘commercial interests’. For this reason they ask that the inscription ‘Mount Carmel’ be removed from the façade.

Jacinta Kerketta turned down the prestigious Room to Read because it was co-sponsored by a US agency while the US government supports Israel's war in Gaza (and Lebanon). Last year she did the same with another award in protest against the abuse of Adivasis in Manipur. For Indian priest, hers is a “bold step”.

The platform was launched by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India-Latin rite on the eve of World Day of Migrants and Refugees. Migrants can register to be welcomed and helped by host communities. Migrants bring wealth to local parishes, as was visible last Sunday in Mumbai during the Karam festival, celebrated by over 800 Catholic migrants at St Stephen's Church.

Since 9 September, about a thousand workers have been asking for higher salaries and their own union. The southern Indian state has been an important industrial hub for hi-tech production since the 1990s; unlike other states where economic growth dominates, it has seen social progress as well, due especially to policies that do not take into account caste or religion.

In a letter, Archbishop Andrews Thazhath denounces the misappropriation of property owned by Christian fishing families in Ernakulam district. After intense debate, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, tabled in early August, was forwarded to a joint parliamentary committee. Muslims, however, fear control by the central government.

Led by Archbishop Oswald Gracias, the initiative at Holy Name High School in Colaba is linked to the Prime Minister Modi’s “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign to honour mothers and promote care for the environment. For Card Gracias, it is important to “encourage our youth and everybody else also to be conscious of the need to care for creation”.

Four hours of "ritualistic sanitation" are needed to cleanse a historic Hindu temple visited by millions of pilgrims every year after lab tests found traces of animal fats in laddu sold to devotees to be presented as offerings. The recently elected chief minister, a BJP ally, blames his predecessor for the problem. The latter writes to PM Modi to slam his successor and call for an independent investigation.

The two candidates favoured in the polls hold opposite positions towards Sri Lanka’s Indian neighbour, sometimes seen as a cumbersome presence in the island nation’s domestic politics. India is worried instead about China’s growing influence, but, given the current environment in South Asia, it will likely work with whoever comes to power.

They are accused of promising miraculous cures for diseases, exploiting superstitions widespread among Dalits and the poor. The events allegedly took place in the house of Pastor Achhe Lal, in the village of Pakhrauli. A local source: it was a normal Sunday liturgy. Fr Anand Mathew of Varanasi: ‘Arrests are an almost daily occurrence. Wrong if Catholics on Protestants say: it is only their problem'.

About 2.3 million voters cast their ballots for 24 of the 90 members of the Legislative Assembly. The poll is the first since the region’s special status was repealed in 2019. The turnout should be high, but results are expected to show a fragmented political landscape.