The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) recent guidelines to schools under its fold to “face the emerging challenges due to the current socio-cultural, religious, and political situation in the country” have been welcomed by the Guwahati-based right-wing group Kutumba Surakshya Parishad (KSP).

The KSP now wants a meeting with the CBCI to seek “clarification” on “other” issues of concern flagged by it.

Some of the CBCI guidelines which have attracted attention included the “need to respect all faith traditions without any discrimination”, “we should not force our religious traditions on students of other faiths”, “have a separate ‘inter-religious prayer room’ (Sarvadharma Prarthanalay) on the school premises” and celebrate all the important religious festivals.

Though the CBCI, the apex body of Catholics in the country has over 15,000 educational institutions, including schools and colleges, under its fold, did not name any organisation or cite the emerging challenges, but the guidelines come, among others, in the wake of issues raised by right-wing groups against the “perceived style of functioning” of these missionary-run educational institutions, especially schools.

KSP president Satya Ranjan Borah told The Telegraph on Thursday they welcomed the CBCI guidelines on “restricting exclusive practices of Christianity in an educational institution”.

Borah said: “Their guideline that ‘we should not force our religious traditions on students of other faiths’ justify the demands we have raised. They have positively responded to our concerns. Now we know the actual authority with whom we should communicate for future course of action for the all-round development of the nation.”

He said they would write to the CBCI for a meeting in a day or two seeking “clarification” on issues of concern flagged by the parishad, including their demand for removal of churches from educational institutions and explaining “in true sense the knowledge of India” to the students as per the New Education Policy, and promoting the use of vernacular (local) languages and practices.

The KSP was among a group of organisations associated with the Sangh Parivar to have set a 15-day ultimatum in February to missionary-run education institutes in Assam to spell out their stand on why their teachers and staff should “wear religious dress, install statues of Jesus and Mary or the Cross and build Churches in their educational institutes”.

In neighbouring Tripura, “members” of two right-wing groups wanted to host Saraswati Puja inside a missionary school in Gomati district on February 14 “by hook or crook”, compelling the school principal to approach the administration seeking protection from such an “illegal act”.

Borah said, “ We have no problem with Christianity but we are strongly opposed to intentional religious practices of Christian Missionaries to promote their religion in the name of providing education. They must separate religion and education for the sake of constitutional values of India. We appeal to them to abide by the Article 51 (A) of the Constitution, which deals with fundamental duties towards the nation, including transcending religious, linguistic, and regional or sectional diversities...To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture.”

Some of the other CBCI guidelines included the educational institutes should s trive to recruit teachers from diverse backgrounds to “reflect” the diversity of our student populations, promote religious and cultural sensitivity and respect for diversity among staff members; Make children recite the Preamble to the Indian Constitution during the daily assemblies; Display the Preamble to the Indian Constitution at the entrance to the main school building.