Christians Hopeful as Voting Begins

At voting got underway all over the country, the Christian community have expressed hope of an outcome that would end sectarian violence and religious intolerance and pave the way for peace and inter–religious harmony.

Though the Christians comprise only a bit over 2% of India’s total population, yet, they believe that as the children of the Lord they have an important role to play in the social, cultural and political progress of the nation. And hence they are praying fervently so that voting gets over peacefully even as throngs are crowding at the voting booths to cast their all–important vote.

Take Mangalore, the sleepy city on India's south–west coast, in the state of Karnataka, sandwiched between Kerala and Goa, for instance. Christians, though small in number, have a visible presence here with numerous churches, schools and seminaries dotting the lush green landscape.

Christianity arrived in India from these shores, with the arrival of the first missionaries some 400 years ago.

Nuns and priests are among the first to line up outside polling stations in Mangalore.
Sister Matilda of Mangalore's Rosario church is getting worried. In spite of waiting in line to vote since early morning, she has still to cast her vote. The reason? The electronic voting machine has broken down and officials are making frantic calls to try and get it started.

"At this rate I'll miss my service," she bemoans, looking at her watch.

In this city, India's ruling BJP is locked in a bitter fight with the opposition Congress party. Though, generally, many support Prime Minister Vajapyee’s liberal policies and leadership, yet some here are nervous of some of his party's more hardline members. Incidentally, Karnataka was among the states where hardline Hindus smashed and desecrated churches a few years ago.

The Christians here still remember the murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two young sons by Hindu fanatics in the late 1990s.
"I am voting for the freedom of religion and for the right of individuals to practice their faith," exhorts Sister Magdalene.

Brother Austin Fernandes, who is studying to become a priest at Mangalore's St Joseph seminary, feels that the government has its priorities wrong.
"I am looking for a better government that can serve the people – poverty should be abolished and there should be no discrimination based on religion, caste and creed. The government should treat everyone as equals," he says.

Not only the missionary triple murder case, but also the Godhra carnage in Gujarat and the forcible tonsure of the 7 women who refused to be reconverted to Hinduism in Orissa are still fresh in the minds of the Christians. And, as the exit polls indicate a hung parliament, it appears that the minority communities like these Christians will finally have a word to say.

By our special correspondent