By Matters India Reporter
Bhopal, Oct 22, 2021: Some young Christians have burnt the effigy of a Hindu law maker in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh to protest against his unsavory statement against Christians and Muslims.
Rameshwar Sharma, a legislator belonging to the ruling pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party, urged Hindus at a religious gathering “to stay away from Father (referring to Christians) and Chadar (referring to Muslims) and Peer Baba (a Sufi Muslim saint).”
The law maker cautioned Hindus that the company of company of Christians and Muslims “will destroy you.”
The legislator’s communal remarks provoked some Christians, who on October 18 burnt his effigy at Lilly Talkies Square in the state capital of Bhopal.
“This time we burnt Sharma’s effigy at a public place to caution him,” Jerry Paul, the national president of the Sarva Isai Mahasabha (grand council of all Christians), told Matters India, October 22.
“If the legislator repeats the same, we will not hesitate to burn his effigy in front of his house and lodge police case against him for creating communal discord among people on religious lines,” Paul warned.
Sharma believed to have made the remarks at a Dussehra celebration on October 15 in Bhopal. It came to light through a video clipping on social media two-days later.
The legislator further urged Hindus to stop using “good morning” (apparently referring to European culture and Christianity) and instead use “Jai Shree Ram” (hail Lord Ram) to greet people.
Meanwhile Archbishop Leo Cornelio of Bhopal condemned the legislator’s divisive remarks. “An MLA representing the people of a state should have a sense of what to speak and what not to speak in public forum,” the prelate said.
“His statement has deeply hurt the sentiments of the peace loving community,” he added.
According to him, the legislator’s remarks were cheap political gimmick for short term goal. But it would harm the development of society in the long run,” he added.
Archbishop Cornelio has asked the people to become aware of such evil intention of planting the seeds of hatred and disharmony in the society.
Quoting from certain reports the prelate noted, “The country is far behind the poverty line and not even above our neighboring countries. Our MLA should focus on the development of the society based on constitution than to spread division among the people.”
Father Maria Stephen, the Public Relation Officer of the archdiocese, said, “Sharma has not even learned the basic etiquette of respecting the people in public.”
“Our MLA should learn the basic culture of embracing every one as its members of the universal family which has brought glory and honor to the country,” the priest added.
The priest further added that the legislator’s acts indicated that he was not interested in the development of all and added, “Christian community has tirelessly worked for the development of all the communities before and after independence.”
BJP has been ruing Madhya Pradesh since December 2003 with one-and-half years break.
Christians make up 0.29 percent of the 71 million people in the state where Hindus account for 90 percent and Muslim close to 6 percent.