A few days ago, a viral video on social media led The Commune to report about how DMK supporting Christian priest Jegath Gaspar had once instigated the people of a village in Kanyakumari to not allow the construction of the Enayam port there. In this report, we will look at 13 documented incidents between 2001 and 2025 in which church leaders or church-affiliated organizations have opposed major infrastructure and development projects across India.
#1 India’s First Deepwater Seaport Could’ve Been in Tamil Nadu, Opposed by Priest Jegath Gaspar “In the Name of Jesus”
As Kerala celebrated the arrival of MSC Irina at the newly launched Vizhinjam International Seaport, questions arose in Tamil Nadu about what could have been. The Enayam deepwater port project, once backed by the Centre, promised to transform Tamil Nadu’s coastal economy. However, it was stalled due to local opposition, prominently led by Christian priest Fr. Jegath Gaspar Raj, who invoked religious sentiments to rally resistance, calling the project a threat to divine creation and coastal heritage. His emotionally charged speech at a church festival framed the port as a danger to both livelihoods and sacred land. Now, as Vizhinjam positions itself as a global transshipment hub rivaling Colombo, many in Tamil Nadu reflect on how a mix of religious rhetoric and political resistance may have cost the state a game-changing economic opportunity.
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#2 Church-Led Protests Stall Vizhinjam Port, Spark Communal Tensions
On 26 November 2022, church-led protesters, primarily from the Latin Catholic community, blocked construction vehicles and clashed with police at the Vizhinjam International Seaport site in Kerala. Despite prior assurances to the Kerala High Court, demonstrators blocked roads, halted over 20 trucks, and erected barricades, stalling a project halted for over 100 days. The Adani Group, executing the project, expressed frustration over repeated disruptions despite favorable court rulings. While protestors cited environmental and livelihood concerns, critics argue the port’s strategic importance outweighs objections. Hindu organizations, including NSS and SNDP, launched counter-protests demanding swift completion. The standoff took on communal tones as both sides engaged in stone pelting. The Vizhinjam port, once completed, is expected to challenge Colombo, Dubai, and Singapore as a key transshipment hub, with deep natural draft and global trade proximity.
#3 Church-Run Daily Slams Kerala’s SilverLine Project As “Rail of Tears”
On 23 March 2022, Deepika, the Catholic Church-run daily in Kerala, published a sharp critique of the state’s SilverLine (K-Rail) semi-high-speed rail project. The article, penned by Fr. Michel Pulickal of the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC), accused the government of prioritizing a flashy, costly venture over real infrastructural needs. Titled “Does development only mean K-Rail?”, the piece warned of mass displacement, environmental harm, and rampant corruption. It highlighted failed promises like the Kochi Metro and unscientific projects such as the Vyttila and Edappally flyovers. Fr. Pulickal described the SilverLine as a “rail of tears,” referencing past evictions like Moolampilly, where victims still await rehabilitation. The article questioned the state’s financial capacity to fund such a mega-project, urging focus instead on road and KSRTC upgrades. The Church’s intervention amplified growing public skepticism over the project’s social and economic costs.
#4 All Saints Church Protests Bangalore Metro Land Acquisition
On December 12, 2021, members of Bengaluru’s All Saints Church congregation staged protests against the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) for acquiring 883 square meters of church land for the Vellara Junction Metro Station. The heritage church, over 150 years old, is located at the Richmond Road–Hosur Road junction. Congregants, supported by environmental groups, held daily sit-in protests citing concerns over heritage loss, environmental impact, and damage to a sacred site. Protest leader Ebenezer Prem Kumar stated that BMRCL’s proposed construction poses a threat to the church’s structural safety. He suggested using an alternative government-owned plot—103 meters of defence land already acquired by BMRCL—located directly opposite the church. Despite repeated appeals, BMRCL did not issue a response.
#5 Orthodox Bishop Slams K-Rail As Anti-People, Anti-Nature
On 11 August 2021, Geevarghese Mor Coorilos, metropolitan of the Niranam diocese of the Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church, publicly opposed Kerala’s SilverLine (K-Rail) semi-high-speed rail project. In a strongly worded Facebook post, the bishop criticized the plan to evict around one lakh people and warned of irreversible environmental damage. Calling the project “against people and nature,” he highlighted the unpredictability of climate due to unchecked exploitation and questioned how the government, already deep in debt, could justify a project expected to cost over ₹1 lakh crore. The bishop stressed that real development should not come at the cost of human displacement and ecological harm. He urged the government to heed global climate warnings and scrap the project altogether, questioning how a Leftist administration could promote such destructive development.
#6 Church Opposes Coal Mining Auction in Tribal Jharkhand
On 15 July 2020, Church leaders and tribal activists, including Father Vincent Ekka of the Jesuit-run Indian Social Institute, strongly opposed the central government’s plan to auction 41 coal blocks—nine of them in Jharkhand—for commercial mining. They warned that the move would displace indigenous communities, destroy biodiversity, and devastate farmland and forests vital to tribal livelihoods. Father Ekka questioned government claims of job creation, noting that mining has historically failed to prevent mass migration. He emphasized that tribals are the true custodians of the environment and should not be sacrificed for economic gains. Jharkhand’s Chief Minister Hemant Soren also criticized the Centre’s decision, calling it a violation of federal principles and filed a petition in the Supreme Court demanding environmental and social impact assessments.
#7 Church-Backed Protests and Closure of Sterlite Copper Plant in Thoothukudi
In 2018, Vedanta’s Sterlite Copper plant in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, was shut down following mass protests, heavily influenced by local Catholic churches and religious leaders like Brother Mohan C. Lazarus. Declaring Sundays as “Protest Day,” church groups mobilized villagers using unverified claims of pollution and health hazards. Despite NEERI and NGT reports showing Sterlite’s emissions were within legal limits, misinformation spread rapidly. Post-closure, many locals regretted participating, acknowledging they were misled by external agitators. Sterlite had provided jobs, scholarships, and women’s welfare schemes. Later studies disproved many health allegations. Intelligence reports suggest foreign interests and political agendas were involved in fueling unrest. Many now seek Sterlite’s reopening, recognizing its crucial role in India’s copper supply and local economy.
#8 Christians Protest BMC Move to Demolish Heritage Cross and Graves
On 22 May 2016, over 15,000 Christians protested in Mumbai against the BMC’s road-widening plan that threatened to demolish a 450-year-old heritage cross and part of the graveyard at Our Lady of Remedy Church, Kandivali. Christian NGOs Save Our Land (SOUL) and Watchdog Foundation led the protest, alleging collusion between builders and BMC officials to clear religious structures obstructing real estate projects. Protesters highlighted that the church, built in 1550, holds historical and religious significance, with graves containing semi-decomposed bodies. The community warned that demolition could hurt religious sentiments and cause unrest. SOUL criticized BMC’s failure to provide a cemetery for Mumbai’s 3 lakh Christians despite years of promises. They demanded preservation under heritage laws, citing the Church’s inclusion in BMC’s proposed Heritage Category II A list and protections under the Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
#9 Church-Backed Protests Stall Kudankulam Nuclear Project
Between 2011 and 2012, the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu faced large-scale protests allegedly orchestrated by Church leaders and Church-funded NGOs, including the Tuticorin Diocese Association. The St. Lourdes Church in Idinthakarai was turned into a protest hub, with pastors reportedly selecting protestors under bishops’ guidance. Villagers feared a Fukushima-like disaster, but government agencies and a 2012 IB report later alleged foreign funding and Church involvement aimed at stalling India’s nuclear progress. In 2017, a Republic TV sting revealed a parish priest coordinating funds and protestors in Idinthakarai, allegedly under the direction of Bishop Yvon Ambroise. NGOs linked to the protests had their FCRA licenses revoked, and cases were filed by the CBI and Tamil Nadu police. Reports suggested protest participation was incentivized monetarily, raising questions about the movement’s true motives.
#10 Church Opposes POSCO Project Over Displacement Fears in Odisha
On 19 May 2010, Church leaders in Odisha, including Fr Ajay Kumar Singh and Bishop Lucas Kerketta of Sambalpur, publicly opposed the $12 billion POSCO steel project, arguing it threatened the livelihoods of tribal and Dalit communities. The Church criticized the government’s plan to forcibly acquire land, especially from fertile villages like Dhinkia, Nuagaon, and Gadakujanga. While the state promoted the project as a path to economic growth and employment, the Church emphasized the need to protect marginalized communities from eviction and ecological harm. Fr Singh condemned industrialization “on the backs of locals,” accusing the state of acting as a corporate agent. Bishop Kerketta urged the government to prioritize people’s needs over profits and seek amicable solutions for resettlement and employment. The Church backed peaceful protests as villagers blocked access to their land, defending their rights against what they saw as forced and unjust displacement.
#11 Church-Backed Opposition Halts Vedanta’s Niyamgiri Mining Project
In 2009, Vedanta’s bauxite mining project in Odisha’s Niyamgiri Hills faced strong resistance from tribal communities, supported by Church-backed NGOs and international activists. These groups warned that the project would displace over 8,000 Dongria Kondh tribals and devastate the local ecosystem. The protests drew global attention, with figures like Bianca Jagger and Arundhati Roy voicing opposition. The Church of England also withdrew its £3.8 million stake in Vedanta. Accused of funding and organizing the agitation, the Church and associated NGOs played a significant role in pressuring authorities. In 2012, Vedanta announced the closure of its Lanjigarh refinery, which was constructed to process the 78 million tonnes of bauxite found in the hills. This episode is often cited as an example of how foreign-funded activism, under the pretext of tribal rights and environmental concerns, stalled a major industrial initiative with national economic implications.
#12 Catholics Protest BMC’s Plan to Demolish Orlem Cemetery
On 18 December 2004, Mumbai’s Catholic community protested the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) road-widening project that proposed demolishing part of the historic Orlem Church cemetery in Malad. Parishioners, led by Fr. Alex Carvalho, objected on religious and emotional grounds, highlighting the sanctity of graves and limited burial space. While BMC claimed the move was necessary to ease traffic congestion, residents argued that the cemetery section being targeted wouldn’t solve the issue and accused the BMC of selecting the wrong area for expansion. Some community members supported development, citing an alternative burial ground at Asmita Jyoti Cross. However, many demanded that the BMC provide replacement burial space. Church leaders stated they would consult parishioners before deciding. The BMC agreed to continue discussions with the church, seeking a peaceful resolution while emphasizing the importance of infrastructure development.
#13 Hyderabad Church Members Protest Commercial Use of School Land
On 27 July 2001, over 15,000 members of the Methodist Church in Hyderabad staged a peace rally opposing a clergy-backed plan to convert the Methodist Boys High School premises in Abids into a commercial complex. The rally, organized by the Hyderabad Regional Conference, began at the Centenary Methodist Church and ended at the school site. Protesters accused church authorities of misusing church funds and violating the religious and educational purpose of the property. B.S. Abraham Lincoln, convener of the regional conference, revealed that demolition work began despite state education authorities and the Education Minister publicly opposing the project. A resolution was passed demanding accountability from church officials and the protection of the school premises. The protesters also submitted a memorandum to then Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, urging government intervention and calling for autonomy from the central Methodist Church of India.
#14 Don Bosco-Affiliated NGOs Involved In Aarey Metro Protest Reveals Expose
The Legal Rights Observatory (LRO) has alleged that the Bombay Salesian Society, affiliated with Don Bosco, is funding and orchestrating protests against government infrastructure projects. The NGO claimed the Society received ₹176 crores over the past decade, including ₹10.19 crores last year, and used shadow groups like ‘Vana Shakti’ and ‘Greenline’ to oppose the Mumbai Aarey metro car shed. Greenline operates from Don Bosco School, Matunga. LRO further accused Saint Stanislaus School in Bandra of coercing parents and students to participate in protests, prompting an NCPCR-directed probe. The LRO also highlighted past Church opposition to Konkan Railways and accused Caritas India, a Salesian-linked NGO, of conversions.
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