Notwithstanding the stern warning issued by the spiritual heads of the Latin Catholic community under Archdiocese of Trivandrum and the Diocese of Changanachery that controls the Catholics, asking the laity not to vote for the BJP-led NDA in the Lok Sabha poll, the Christian Alliance for Social Action , an umbrella organization of all Christian sects came out with a declaration on Friday that the Christians in the State would vote for BJP and its allies.
“What the nation needs at this hour is a leader like Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He alone would be able to hold the country together and bring in the communal harmony about which other political leaders sing about,” said the announcement issued by Kevin Peter, president, CASA on Friday.
Kevin Peter said the decision of CASA was taken in the backdrop of the unprecedented economic and social progresses registered by India during the last ten years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “The massive investment made by the Centre in infrastructure development and various schemes launched in social sector has benefitted all deserving sections of the society irrespective of caste, creed and religion. Thanks to the measures launched by the country’s internal security system, all Indians can live and sleep peacefully. Not a single incident of communal violence have been reported from anywhere in the country though there were attempts by some sections to portray Manipur violence as genocide. Though there was violence and riots in Manipur which resulted many people losing their lives and property, the BJP or Sangh Parivar forces have no roe in them,” said Kevin Peter who alleged that some vested interests were spreading falsehood with the intention of tarnishing the image of India.
The CASA has come down heavily on the Congress-led UDF and the CPI(M)-led LDF for playing the Muslim card in their efforts to appease one particular community. “Though the Muslims constitute 26 per cent of the population in the State, they walk away with all benefits which are to be allocated to all minority communities. The Christians are left high and dry by both the Congress and the Communists and this has to end. We will be able to live in this country with dignity only under a leader like Narendra Modi who works on the slogan Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas,” said the CASA declaration.
A Jayasankar, author and political commentator, said that the Good Friday declarations made by the archbishops and bishops not to trust the BJP have to be taken with a pinch of salt. “They made the announcement to impress u[pon other political parties that they were nit pitching for Modi or the BJP. But the tone of their speeches and body languages make it clear that they do not have any ill will towards the BJP or its Hindutva politics,” said Jayasankar.
