Catholic priest, George Ponnaiah, known for his anti-Hindu and anti-India speech, issued a public clarification days before the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, rejecting claims that Christian leadership bodies had endorsed any political alliance and describing a widely circulated leaflet as “completely fabricated.”
The statement came in the backdrop of pamphlets that had been circulated ahead of polling on 19 April 2026, purportedly resembling a circular from the Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council and suggesting support for the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam alliance. The reported circulation triggered public backlash, internal dissent within sections of the Christian community, and legal complaints alleging politicisation of religious institutions and possible misuse of foreign funds.
Reacting to the controversy, Ponnaiah said, “Dear people of Tamil Nadu, the festival of democracy, the election is set to take place in our state within just two days. At this juncture, recognizing it as my duty to offer a few clarifications, I wish to address you on this matter. Specifically, I am well aware that in recent times, acting as a burden upon the public discourse, a leaflet resembling a circular from the Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council has been circulated in the media and on social media platforms, and was even distributed in a few churches.”
He added, “While it is true that the distribution of this leaflet was prohibited in most Catholic churches, I speak now so that you may understand exactly what transpired in reality. The question arises: “Does the Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council have the authority to issue such a circular?” In my opinion, yes, they do; as our spiritual guides, they are entitled to issue circulars. However, and this is the crucial point, did they actually issue this specific circular? The answer is no. This is because a meeting of the Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council was held two months ago, and the matters discussed during that meeting were entirely different from the contents of this leaflet.”
He continued, “One of the key topics discussed during that meeting was the imperative to educate the public to create awareness regarding the fundamental rights guaranteed to us by the Constitution of India. Secondly, the meeting addressed the hardships that minority communities in Tamil Nadu have been enduring over the past decade. In particular, the discussion focused on how the current administration has pushed us into a situation where we are unable to effectively manage our own educational institutions. Let me cite just one example: today, approximately 12,000 teachers are living in poverty without salaries and without employment. Requests for a remedy to this situation have been raised repeatedly, yet no action has been taken. Our teachers, specifically those serving in government-aided schools administered by minority institutions, are denied pension benefits. Traditionally, teachers are expected to live a life of peace and dignity in their twilight years; yet today, they are plagued by poverty and hunger. A plea was made to both major political parties to put an end to this suffering. Would not, or should not, any compassionate administration with a heart full of empathy lend a listening ear to such grievances? This matter was discussed. Similarly, if you look at southern Tamil Nadu, and specifically the Kanyakumari district, permission to construct places of worship on Patta lands (private lands) is being denied. The entire Christian community is being adversely affected. While all these issues were indeed deliberated upon during the Bishops’ Council meeting, no decision was reached regarding what course of action to take in the upcoming election or which candidate to support. Let me state this with absolute clarity: this leaflet is a complete fabrication deliberately orchestrated and circulated by a select few with the sole intention of misleading the public.”
He further said, “The minority Christian and Muslim communities comprising educated and cultured individuals possess the intellect and capacity to discern for themselves whom they should vote for. Therefore, I unequivocally declare that this leaflet is a fake. Furthermore, regarding the claim that certain bishops and priests met with the Chief Minister to pledge their support, I invite you to look at the photograph in question. Observe it closely: how many bishops are actually standing there? Not a single one of the active bishops currently serving in Tamil Nadu is present. The only bishop visible is a retired Archbishop; standing beside him is a priest – the former Chairman of the Minorities Commission. No one has any idea which denomination these individuals belong to or who they truly are. Neither the Catholic bishops of Tamil Nadu nor the bishops of the Church of South India were present at that gathering. Therefore, I wish to state clearly that any assertion claiming that the bishops or the clergy in general have extended their support is entirely false. Consequently, I strongly condemn any discussions or debates taking place on social media that attempt to portray the bishops or priests in a partisan light.”
He continued, “Now, regarding what truly lies in the hearts and minds of the minority communities concerning this election, I would like to share the following: the minority people are deeply distressed. They are ready to embrace and accept any new leadership that emerges with the promise and the credibility to resolve all their long-standing issues. Thus, I can clearly perceive a prevailing sentiment among the grassroots population – a yearning for change. They are asking themselves: “Will this current situation ever change? Will a new dawn ever break for us? Will a new leader emerge to restore our rights to us?” I can sense this deep longing because we, the clergy, live and work closely with the grassroots communities; therefore, I witness this sentiment dominating their collective consciousness. If such a new leadership were to emerge and offer solutions to all our problems, we would welcome that new leadership with the utmost joy and enthusiasm. Thank you.”
Speaking with an interviewer separately and what was caught on camera, he is heard saying, “It is truly distressing to witness how certain individuals conduct themselves. For instance, our Sisters [nuns] went to wait at Mr. Mano Thangaraj’s residence, only to be kept waiting endlessly something we have never experienced before. Being made to wait like that was a very unpleasant experience for us; indeed, our overall experience with him has been quite poor. He is a prominent professor associated with the DMK. Regarding the issue of school education: he claims that if a student studies in a government school and subsequently enrolls in a government college, they are entitled to a monthly stipend. However, he implies that if a student studies in our schools, they are not eligible for this benefit.”
Who Is George Ponnaiah?
George Ponnaiah is a Catholic priest from Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu who came into public focus following a controversial speech delivered in July 2021 at Arumanai. In that speech, he made remarks that were derogatory toward Hindu beliefs, including references to Bharat Mata and Bhumi Devi, and also criticized top BJP leaders. An FIR was subsequently filed against him under sections such as 295A (hurting religious sentiments) and 153A (promoting enmity between groups), leading to his arrest. When he approached the Madras High Court seeking to quash the case, the court refused, observing that his remarks were offensive and had the potential to disturb communal harmony. While some charges were dropped, key provisions were allowed to stand, ensuring that the case against him would proceed
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