National Christian body releases guidelines for electorate

The national body of the Protestant and Orthodox churches in India has appealed to the electorate in the country to vote for a candidate who is committed to "secularism and communal harmony".

The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) that represents 13 million Christians throughout the country said the 2009 Lok Sabha election is of paramount importance in the backdrop of growing violence on Christians, and division caused by political parties polarizing the electorate on the basis of caste and religion.

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, 33% reservation for women in legislatures," the NCCI suggested.

After witnessing the recent Orissa mayhem that was one of the largest anti-Christian violence in the country, the NCCI is perplexed, as even the government has been sluggish in delivering justice and curbing the growing impunity.

Bishop Taranth Sagar, NCCI President said, "Christians are peace loving people. We never retaliate to these atrocities being committed and hence we are being made the scapegoats by the ruling parties in states of Karnataka and Orissa."

He added: "Christians have made great contributions in the nation's development especially in health, education and social upliftment. We consider everybody equal and never nurtured discrimination in permitting people of other faith in our institution and hospitals. This is due to our concern and fight to human values and rights, and not only the church community."

He pointed that the church body released the guidelines not just for Christians but also for all Indians, especially the voiceless, the minorities and those who have been suppressed and oppressed in the society.

"Whoever are committed to secularism and communal harmony we will support," he stressed.

Bishop Sagar is also of an opinion that if a Dalit finds a savior among Christians who renders education, good health and social upliftment and if this sense of gratitude leads him to embracing Christianity, nothing is wrong and it must not be termed as "conversion through force and fraud".

The Christian leaders pleaded to politicians to address the issues of the nation in a holistic approach and not based on religion, which can cause communal disharmony.

"We want to work together for the development of the nation. Not only for Christians but for the whole Indian society in keeping with the human values and rights," they reiterated.

On April 3, NCCI concluded the three-day consultation themed "From Divisive Politics to Inclusive Democracy". It was held in association with the Christian Institute for the Study of Religion (CISRS), Student Christian Movement of India (SCMI) and Interfaith Coalition for Peace (ICP).