The Union of India on Thursday apprised the Supreme Court that the figures quoted in a petition alleging attacks on Christian priests and institutions across the country were incorrect.
Appearing for the Central government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta apprised the Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice J.B. Pardiwala that the Union of India had filed an affidavit in the Apex Court over the matter after collating information from various States.
He contended that the top court of the country had taken note of the matter on the basis of figures provided by the petitioner.
As per the SG, the petitioner had claimed that there were some 500 incidents where Christians were attacked. The government sent the figures to the State governments and collated all the information it received from the States.
Talking about Bihar, he said the number provided by the petitioner included internal fights between neighbours, one of which happened to be a Christian.
Noting that the petitioners wanted to keep ‘the pot boiling,’ the SG said the petition sent a wrong message to the public.
This is how it was being displayed outside the country. This was the message that went out to the public that Christians were in danger. This was a wrong perception, he added.
Representing one of the petitioners, Advocate Colin Gonsalves requested the Apex Court to provide them more time to respond to it, since the affidavit was placed late last night.
The top court of the country then granted three weeks to the petitioners to file their response.