By chhotebhai
Kanpur, March 20, 2023: The Indian Catholic Forum (ICF) is aghast and astounded at the purported recent statement of Archbishop Joseph Pamplany of Tellicherry, Kerala, that the Christians of Kerala would support the BJP if it increased the price of rubber to 300 rupees per kilo.
It would seem that the Syro-Malabar Church in Kerala, that was once the pride of the community, has now hit the pits, thanks to an arrogant hierarchy and an ignorant and somnambulant laity. This, despite a 2,000-year heritage.
Who is the archbishop to assure votes to the BJP, for whatever reason? Judas sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Wonder what the price of rubber was at that time?
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated instance of Christians cozying up to the BJP. The Kerala hierarchy in particular seems to be more concerned about protecting its institutional and financial wealth, rather than considering the interests of the common person.
However, this phenomenon is not restricted to Kerala. In the last two elections we have seen Catholic legislators in Goa immediately switching loyalties and joining the BJP to share the loaves of office and to protect their personal fiefdoms. Today money is the unabashed goddess of the politicians.
Goans are supposed to be highly educated and liberal thinkers. But they make for dumb politics. Recent elections in Christian majority states in the North East like Nagaland and Meghalaya are another case in point. Meghalaya’s re-elected Chief Minister Conrad Sangma belongs to an old Congress family and is a Catholic. Could he not have formed a government without the support of two measly BJP legislators? Shame.
It was déjà vu in Nagaland where the regional party joined hands with the BJP to form the government. We know that the North East is heavily dependant on Central funding so tends to kowtow to the party in power in the Centre. But I am here reminded of one of the seven social sins identified by Mahatma Gandhi – “Politics without principles.” He had also repeatedly warned that the means do not justify the ends.
At its recent meeting in Varanasi the ICF had reaffirmed its commitment to a secular society. Papers on Anti-conversion laws and the Saffronisation of the North East were presented. How the BJP is using every trick in the book to harass and persecute Christians is well documented. If bishops in Kerala and Christian politicians in Goa or the North East are cozying up to the BJP for short term gains they need to know the long term repercussions of their myopic actions.
The Christian community in India needs to be ever vigilant and not fall into the BJP trap. As scripture warns “Your enemy the devil goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom it may devour.”
(chhotebhai is the convener of the Indian Catholic Forum)