Reconcile with BJP government: PCLM to Church leadership

New Delhi, May 24: The Poor Christian Liberation Movement (PCLM) president R L Francis has urged the Church leadership in India to reconcile with the BJP Government for the benefit of the Christian community.

In a press statement issued here after the Lok Sabha election results were declared, Francis said that the overwhelming victory of the BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for reconsidering the approach of the minorities, especially the Christians towards the BJP.

Commenting on the results of the election that gave 303 seats to the BJP and 354 to NDA led by it, the PCLM president urged the Church leadership to resume sincere and meaningful dialogue with the BJP government.

“It is time to think seriously about addressing the issues of Dalit Christians and bring them into the mainstream”, Francis said.

He further said that during the last five years of Modi government, there has been many examples of the BJP government helping the Christians without any discrimination.

The PCLM president also said that the Modi government has by and large successfully handled the tensions and cleared the apprehensions from the minds of the minority communities by controlling the hardcore and fringe elements in the party.

He quoted the response of the Prime Minister saying ‘Sab ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas and Sab ka Vishwas = Vijayi Bharat’ and urged the Church leaders to take initiative for a dialogue with the BJP.

Francis expressed that unnecessary criticism of Modi will only lead to ill feelings between two communities. There is a need to reconsider the outlook of Christians toward Hindus, he said adding that the Christians also need to understand distinction between Hindutva and nationalism.