Churches pray as elections begin in world's largest democracy

As India's month-long national election has begun today, the uniting body of the Protestant and Orthodox churches in India have called on Christians to fervently pray for an efficient and dependable government.

The vote on Thursday is the first of five stages where about 714 million people will be eligible to cast ballots for a new parliament in the world's largest democracy.

The first phase also includes the state of Orissa, which witnessed large scale violence on Christians in the country. Around 3,000 security personnel have been deployed in the region to ensure protection to the minuscule community amid the recent arrest of BJP firebrand candidate Ashok Sahu who was jailed for his hate speech.

President of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), Bishop Taranath Sagar, told Christian Today that Church is wary of election after fringe Hindu groups in Orissa, Karnataka and other states recently targeted the community.

"Churches and Christian groups all over the country are holding prayer meetings and special services for the election," he said, adding, "The country must elect representatives who are competent, honest and are ready to work for the common man and progress of the nation."

The NCCI that represents 13 million Christians throughout the country said the election is of paramount importance due to the inadequate security and bleak future of Christians in India.

"Christians are peace loving people. We never retaliate to these atrocities being committed and hence we are being made scapegoats. With this election, we want all this to end," Bishop Sagar voiced.

The Christian body in its election manifesto had earlier said the candidates must be committed to "good governance, social justice, solidarity with the poor, security to the minorities, ensuring right to education, national minimum wages, commitment to ecological concerns, reservation benefits for Christian dalits, promote gender justice, implementation of child rights and reservation for women in legislatures."

In Kandhamal, where Christians were murdered and churches burnt in the aftermath of the killing of a local VHP leader, Christians form about 30 per cent of the 10 lakh-plus electorate. The state machinery has promised security and transportation to riot victims who wish to cast their ballots.

Dave Stravers with Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Mission India says, "We need to pray that the people who do vote will also value the freedom of religion that is enshrined in the Constitution of India. Also pray that voters will call their leaders to account to enforce laws that protect people who convert from one religion to another."

"Pray that there will be a peaceful election and that whatever political environment emerges from these elections will be friendly to the Gospel. People in India are very responsive to the Gospel; the church is growing fast," Mission Network News quoted him saying.