Speaking at a CPI (M) event on Sunday in Alappuzha, Cherian claimed that when BJP leaders invite some bishops, they experience “goosebumps.” Bishops who met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Christmas Day last week have come under fire from Kerala Minister Saji Cherian for their silence on the violence in Manipur.
When the BJP extends an invitation, some bishops feel shivers. The people who went to see the prime minister lacked the integrity to talk about the minister. Cakes and grape wine were offered with them. The minister replied that they were not discussing Manipur at all. He said that none of the bishops had questioned or asked the prime minister to step in while hundreds of members of the community they represent were being killed in Manipur. The minister from Kerala went to say that the bishops were called because the BJP needs seats in north-eastern states like Kerala.
Not out of love and concern. Did the bishops express enthusiasm for saying this? No, there wasn’t any zeal. Then, he claimed, some priests in Kerala claim to be BJP supporters because of the threats they have received from Sangh Parivar. V Murleedharan, a union minister and BJP leader, has responded to the Kerala Minister, claiming that the latter’s remarks are derogatory to the state. The remarks made by a Kerala minister disparaging Bishop are derogatory to Kerala. The bishops are being abducted by the minister here. He may be expressing these sentiments in the hopes of receiving a promotion or expanding his portfolio, according to Murleedharan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently held a conversation at his New Delhi home on the occasion of Christmas. During the conversation, the Prime Minister said that India “proudly acknowledges” the contributions of the Christian community”, ranging from its involvement in the country’s freedom movement to its active engagement in volunteer work. According to Modi, he has a long-standing, cordial, and close relationship with the Christian community. I had a natural affinity with the Christian community since I used to deal with them often as Gujarat’s Chief Minister. Maninagar, where I used to run for office, has a sizable Christian population.
The liberation struggle has greatly benefited from the involvement of the Christian community. A large number of Christian leaders and intellectuals participated in the independence struggle. Gandhiji had stated that Sushil Kumar Rudra, the principal of St. Stephen’s College, had given support to the idea of the non-cooperation movement, according to Modi. Since May 3, the ethnic violence in the northeastern state has resulted in over 180 deaths and thousands of internal displacements.
Following a rally by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) on May 3, Ethnic violence between the Kuki and Meitei communities broke out. The Center had to send in parliament forces to bring calm back to the state because the rioting and violence had not stopped, resulting in numerous fatalities. The Manipur administration was requested by the Supreme Court earlier this month to provide the court-appointed commitment with information regarding the measures it had taken to rebuild the sites of worship that had been destroyed during the ethnic violence.
