Modi’s Politics at Play with christians

by Don Aguiar.

Life is chaotic, so many things to do, so many places to go. And in all the outer activity we lose our sense of balance, be that ecological, health or the topic of the day, work-life balance. In our logical minds, balance happens between opposite things. In reality, balance means disappearance of the opposition, the two becoming one, their diametrically opposite ways merging into one, melting into one reality. That is balance, true balance.

Metropolitan archbishop of the archdiocese of Thalassery Joseph Pamplany had said christians would vote for BJP if it ensured Rs300 per kg for rubber, i.e. selling Christian votes for a hike in prices of raw rubber. Kerala Rubber plantation owners and workers are largely Christian.

Cardinal George Alencherry, the major archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, did not pull up the erring Bishop. Instead, in a bizarre newspaper interview, the Cardinal said that – Bishop Pamplany was echoing the sentiments of farmers. It is for the faithful to take a call and admitting that these days the people don’t blindly obey bishops when it comes to voting in political elections and further praising the BJP saying that Christians do not experience insecurity during the rule of the Hindu nationalist BJP in the country.

Many Christian leaders and the community disagree with this statement. The Cardinal should visit the states of Maharashtra, U.P, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat etc., and get the information from Christians of those states. Then he will realized if he is making a blunder by such a false statement. Or was the false statement because of the setback from the Supreme Court Dismissing his Plea to Quash Criminal Cases over Land Scam for alleged irregularities in the sale of properties belonging to Ernakulam-Angamalay Archdiocese. The Court dismissed the Special Leave Petition filed by Cardinal George Alencherry against the judgment delivered by the Kerala High Court...

With this petition dismissal there is every possibility that there is going to be an ED raid on the Cardinal. By making this false statement, has the Cardinal enrolled in the Great Indian Saffron Washing Machine? Modi’s politics at play managing to change one person (Cardinal Alencherry) and make him lose his true balance.

The saddest thing is that our Clergy gets carried away by gimmicks with no voice which is good for the community, neither does the Laity play any role either, other than a few outspoken people who can call a spade a spade. The community and its leaders gets so engrossed into religious activities and forget the real issues happening around them. It's time to defend themselves and its leaders need to think of a strategy to make it happen.

And after the Kerala visit, Modi looked at doing a repeat in Delhi with his sudden visit to the Sacred Heart Cathedral Church in New Delhi. He joined a select group of worshipers as they offered prayers on Easter Sunday 9th April 2023 and also planted a tree on the premises. Was anyone smiling in the photos – either the four Delhi bishops or Modi. He looked as if he was at a funeral.

Notice the colour, symbolism and meaning of Grey Mr Modi chose to wear –

In colour psychology, grey represents neutrality and balance. Its colour meaning likely comes from being the shade between white and black. However, grey does carry some negative connotations, particularly when it comes to depression and loss. Its absence of colour makes it dull. Grey is the colour of intellect and of compromise. It’s a diplomatic colour, negotiating all the distance between black and white. We typically consider grey to be conservative, elegant, and cool, though it can be a bit mysterious.

After the visit, Modi tweeted, “Today, on the very special occasion of Easter, I had the opportunity to visit the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Delhi. I also met spiritual leaders from the Christian community.”

Modi’s rare visit to the Cathedral is imbued with political significance, as the ruling BJP has been actively wooing Christians, especially in Kerala.

The rare visit turned out to be an all media opportunity that comes with the Catholic Community, good for the politician only. May not necessarily be good for the people that the politician is meeting. Could be good too, who knows. Only time will tell.

And while Prime minister Modi crafts his photo opportunity at Easter at the Sacred Heart Cathedral at New Delhi, BJP ministers preach ‘Death to the Christian’s’ Other party leaders prioritise extermination of Muslims a little before that of Christians with instances of assaults and atrocities against Christians pouring in from across the country, which is a stain on its secular fabric.

And as Easter Sunday ended with Mr Modi at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, the question is ‘Can Christians be safe if Muslims are not?’

It is quite clear that both communities continue to live in fear of their lives, limbs and property in every state outside Kerala, Nagaland, and Lakshadweep where there are not many Christians.

(Contd.. on p. 7)

Mr Modi was not expected to articulate a reassurance when he visited the Cathedral which had been site of massive protests in recent months. The highly visible Jantar Mantar agitation of 19th February by laity and clergy had followed a candlelight protest at the Cathedral. Bishops, clergy and common people of all denominations had participated.

A similar highly visible Azad Maidan agitation of 12th April in Mumbai by Christians from all denominations and from all over Maharashtra came together for a similar common cause, despite the personal differences and diverse backgrounds. It proved the way they presented themselves as a community.

One thing we must take away from this recent activity. The Christians are organised yet not united while the tribals are not organised yet united.

Other than in Kerala where the tussle for political and economic supremacy between Hindus, Christians and Muslims continues unabated, the rest of the country sees religious minorities making common cause for no other reason than the identical source of the hate and targeted violence they face.

Christians and Muslims must be cautioned not to give BJP and its affiliates more opportunities to consolidate the secular Hindus who are still against the BJP by organising such protests which do not make any difference to the situation.

The best way to tackle the problem is to silently work with the secular forces as Indians and not flouting the religious or communal badge and bring the change they desire through the ballot which democracy is all about. A protest on religious grounds and by a particular community in fact helps the BJP agenda of mobilising protests under the Hindu banner by quoting Christian and Muslim examples.

It’ll be too much to expect that vio-

Pleas from an Unborn

Dear Mom, I was so happy and excited When god blessed you and planted me in your womb.

Dear Mom, I started growing slowly, protected tightly in your bosom Your womb my warm blanket, your care my happiness

Dear mom, I slowly began to see and feel I heard the things you spoke and loved to hear you talk.

Dear Mom, how long should I wait I wish to come out and cuddle up in your arms.

Dear mom, it's been a while and you seem sad Why is it that you hardly seem to smile?

by Sonal Lobo Bangalore

Dear mom, are you feeling difficult to carry me around? Or do you feel I am not worthy enough? Dear Mom, I am waiting to hear dad talk I wish to feel his hands on your bosom, and speak to me with love.

Dear Mom a few more months and I will be in your arms I will lie in your arms and grow up to become the best daughter and love you all.

Dear Mom, is it true you have agreed to kill me? Mom please don’t do that It’s going to hurt me Please save me, and give me chance to live amongst all lence against Christians will end now that Prime Minister Modi has planted a tree and lit a candle at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in the bosom of New Delhi. The electoral fires are smouldering everywhere. It is not such a thick fog as to blind the entire population to the double game of the BJP, and its minders in the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh on the eve of the general election in 2024.

Dear Mom I am sad to leave you But the creator loves me and welcomed me with open arms I shall pray to him to forgive you Because I shall always love you Dear loving Mom.

Modi has to keep in mind the political and electoral calculations to ensure more votes: Not discouraging the hounds of the Hindu nationalist Sangh Parivar and deepening the polarization; or reassuring the hares, the Muslim and Christian religious minorities, that together make up perhaps 20 percent of India’s population.

Just as hunters use snares to catch animals and armies set traps to misdirect or eliminate their enemies, BJP deploys the same tactics against Christians and Muslims. As Christians, we must be prepared for the schemes of the hunters. And so we seek God’s wisdom, which gives us discernment to spot temptation, deceit, and other traps that catches us.