Kozhikode Bishop's Neutral Stance Ahead Of Elections Brings Comfort To BJP In Kerala

Kozhikode Bishop Varghese Chakkalakal's recent statement has brought some comfort to the BJP in Kerala. The party has been working to connect with the Christian community in the state. With elections approaching, the Bishop's words are timely. He emphasized that the Catholic Church would keep an equal distance from all parties and focus on issues and values.

Bishop Chakkalakal made these comments after a meeting with a BJP delegation led by Prakash Javadekar, the party’s Kerala in-charge. The delegation visited him to extend Easter greetings. The Bishop advised that the church would encourage its followers to vote for candidates who are good for the country and uphold democracy, socialism, secularism, and national unity.

On the topic of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), Bishop Chakkalakal noted that the opposition's claims were just accusations. He suggested that if a law does not harm anyone and aims to provide identity, it should not be seen as an issue. This stance could also be seen as a relief for the BJP, which faces criticism over CAA.

When asked about the security of minorities under the current government, Bishop Chakkalakal expressed his belief that minorities are not insecure. However, he acknowledged some problems and suggested that the government should address these issues. He clarified that he was not accusing the Modi government, which has made progress in many areas.

Regarding the situation in Manipur, Bishop Chakkalakal stated that such incidents should not occur in a democratic society. He mentioned there are varied opinions on what happened, indicating it might be related to caste or tribal issues rather than religion. He admitted to not having complete information but recognized its potential impact on elections.

Bishop Varghese Chakkalakal also mentioned that Kerala's voters are politically savvy and can discern what is good and bad for them. He believes that the church does not need to guide them on whom to vote for. This statement comes as a significant relief for the BJP, which has been actively trying to engage with Kerala's Christian community through initiatives like 'Sneha Yatra' or goodwill visits.