A delegation of Christians met Mrs. Sonia Gandhi
A delegation of Christians met Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, President Indian National Congress on May 22, 2003 at Rest House no. 1, under the leadership of Bishop Gerald Almeida and presented her with a memorandum containing the following demands:

Christian Educational Institutions of Madhya Pradesh be given 100% aid and permanent recognition be
accorded to such institutions of Jabalpur by the District Education Officer.

Lease of land belonging to educational institutions be renewed.

New courses of studies introduced in these institutions be duly recognized.

Rights of minorities guaranteed under article 30 of the Indian Constitution be duly protected.

Community Hall for Christians be provided within the town of Jabalpur.

10% reservation be made for employment and promotion of Christian youth.

Towns having Christian inhabitants be given sufficient land for cemetery.

Christians be given appropriate representation in politics.

The delegation comprised of the following members: Mr. Francis Joseph, Secretary, CWF,

Coordinator, United Christian Forum, M. P., Rev. P. B. Lal, Aseem Claudius, Samuel James, R. Donald, Sanjay Xavier, Joseph Baptist, Fr. Tirky, Christopher Rocky, Sr. Benedict, Sr. Marie Rose, Sr. Ambrose, Fr. Peter Fernandez, Fr. George Raj, Noel Cyril, John Cyril and Bro. K. C. Geman. Bishop Gerald presented Mrs. Gandhi with a portrait of Rani Durgawati.

Mohd. Mian Majahri, President
Mohd. Mian Majahri, President, National Minority Finance and Development Corporation met the representatives of minorities at Rest House no. 2 on May 7, 2005 during his visit to Jabalpur. The representatives of the minority communities received valuable information and guidance about different projects being conducted by the Corporation. Mian Majahri exhorted the minority communities to take fuller advantage of the existing programmes. The Muslim community was represented by Rashid Sohail Siddiqui, Maulana Abdul Siddiqui and Khalik Mohammad. Those representing the Christian community were: Mrs. L. B. Lobo, M. L. A., Francis Joseph, Dr. Panka Toppo, Fr. George P. A. and Dominic Nazareth.

Jabalpur Christian Conference
Jabalpur Christian Conference presented a memorandum to the Governor of Madhya Pradesh Mr. Balram Jharkhand very recently. A delegation of the Conference comprising of the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Jabalpur, Right Rev. Gerald Almeida, President of Christian Conference, Rev. Dr. Cyril Cornelius, Secretary of CNI Diocese, Rev, Ajay Martin, Senior Pastor of A. G. Church, Rev. Kishan Singh, CWF Secretary and PRO, Francis Joseph and Rev, A. D. Claudius represented the community. The members duly honoured the Governor presenting him a bouquet of flowers, drew his attention to the main grievances of the community and demanded that the false cases of conversion registered against the members of the community be withdrawn immediately and an independent and impartial investigation be made by a Commission headed by a High Court Judge. Rev. Kishan Singh brought out the incidents of misbehaviour against women, Rev. Ajay Martin brought to light the incidents of assaults on pastors and ordinary members of the community by anti social elements, and Mr. Francis Joseph presented the statements of aggrieved people given under oath. The governor assured the delegation that no person will ever be allowed to take the law in his hands and that due protection under the law will be given to the Christian community. On this occasion the delegation received encouraging support by the presence of Sanal Pawar, Pastor Sandeep Singh, Pastor Rajesh Choudhary, Pastor Peter Johnson, Sunil Kumar Rao, Fr. Alexander, Pastor Prashant David, Mrs. T. Pawar, Shashi Prabha Dhurv , Sanjay Albert and several other citizens.

Conversion charges be probed by Commission
Conversion charges be probed by Commission was the demand of the Christian Community when its representatives met Mr. Harnam Singh Josh, member, Minority Commission on June 16, 2006. The memorandum presented to the member on this occasion deeply regretted the fact that the Christian community is being persecuted and false charges of conversion are being framed against it. Details of 20 such cases were cited in the memorandum. It has been pleaded that under article 25 of the Indian Constitution freedom to worship, practice and propagate religion is a fundamental right guaranteed to every citizen of India which implies that organizing prayer meetings at one’s residence is no crime. Therefore a Commission instituted under a retired judge of the High Court should investigate these baseless charges, and organizations found guilty must be banned. It was stated further that because of the rise in crimes against the Christian community it does not feel safe. It wants that the rights guaranteed to all citizens also be ensured to it. Therefore all crimes being committed against it are being reported to the Collector, Director General of Police, Superintendent of Police, Home Minister and Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. Present on this occasion were: Bishop Gerald Almeida, Bishop P. C. Singh, Francis Joseph, Arvind Andrews, Sunil Singh, Brother Lawrence, Mrs. Sara Jacob, Sandeep Singh, Jai Sydney, Rajesh Choudhary, Mrs. Seema Charles, Vijay Sydney and Pastor Jose Kujur.

Protest Rally
Jabalpur 7 April, 2007. Jabalpur Christian Community organises a protest rally against the artocity against Christian of Jabalpur. Last 2 years 60 attacks on Christian Pastors and institutions, so Jabalpur Christian Conference and Pastors fellowship of Jabalpur, M.P.-C.G. Christian Writers Forum decided to organise a protest rally and dharna infront of Collectorate. In this protest rally 30,000 christians participated. They came from Jabalpur City & surrounding districts. After christian community gave a Memorandum to President, Prime Minister and Home Minister, New Delhi.

Joint Meeting of J.C.C.
21 April, 2007. Jabalpur Christian Conference organised a christian and all religion, all parties meeting at Christian School. J.C.C. mobilizes the all effort to unity against the fundamental list to maintain the communial harmony in the society. M.P.-C.G. CWF play a active participation in meeting organising and conducting it.

Jagdalpur Journalism Course
26 April, 2007. Three days journalism course was organised by Jagdalpur Diocese, 50 student participated in it. Francis Joseph, Margret Joseph and local journalist as a resources person guided them.

JCC Meeting with P.R.O.
15 May, 2007. M.P. & C.G. Catholic Church P.R.O. Rev. Fr Anand Muttangal have a meeting with J.C.C. Caravas, Jabalpur. Main aim of the meeting was to solve the christian community problems and maintain communal harmony.

Welfare of Minority Work
12 July, 2007. Jabalpur Senior BJP Leader Anand Bernard appointed a member of M.P.State Minority Commission. Christian community delegation met the Anand Bernard on his residence and greeted him with flower bouquet. Mr. Bernard said that he will work for welfare of minority community. In this delegation M.P.-C.G. Christian Writers’ Forum Secretary Mr. Francis Joseph, Ms Teresa Rodrigues, Mr. Sanjay Mathews, Smt. Usha Lal, D.Tirkey, Christian Layers Forum Co-ordinator Michael Pradeep Kapoor. Goa, Mangalore, East Indian Association Members Tony, Christopher Naraona were present.

HC orders for adequate protection to churches
By Our Staff Reporter Bhopal, Mar 21, 2008
Satisfied with the genuine Public Interest• Litigation jointly filed by Catholic Church of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh spokesperson Fr Anand Muttungal and Francis Joseph, a journalist of Jabalpur, the Madhya Pradesh High Court, on Thursday, in an interim order issued to the state government - the Home Secretary and the Director General of Police (DGP) - directed to provide adequate security to the Christian community and their places of worships.
A division bench of Chief Justice AK Patnaik and Justice Prakash Shrivastava issued, the directive while hearing the PIL that the Easter Week going to be started from March 21 and there may be attacks during the festival on the churches, therefore directives to be issued to the authorities concerned, especially in the districts of Bhopal, Indore and Jabalpur, to provide adequate protection to the community. The Court has fixed March 28 as the next date of hearing.
The bench asked the petitioners to approach the Superintendent of Police of Bhopal, Indore and Jabalpur in case they anticipate any attack on any particular church.
While talking to Central Chronicle, Catholic Church of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh spokesperson Fr Anand Muttungal welcomed the High Court order and added that since last one year about 100 persons and churches were attacked by the so called Hindu fundamentallist forces - Bajrang Dal, RSS, VHP and others. Apprehending further attacks on the community and their places of worship, we have knocked the door of the court and we hope that the court will do justice to us.