Poll results affirm India against extremism, says K.P. Yohannan

"The Indian election has sent a significant message that extremism, especially against minorities, is not going to be accepted in the country," said Gospel for Asia President K.P. Yohannan after a secular party was voted to power last week.

"The Dalits ('Untouchables'), the 'other backward classes,' Christians and other minorities have spoken with a loud voice that abusing minorities is not the way to go."

Dr. Yohannan commenting on the overwhelming victory of Congress party and its allies who won 260 seats in the 543-seat parliament, said, the vote was a serious blow to those who would lead India down the road of religious intolerance and growing persecution of Christians.

"No one expected this," Dr. Yohannan noted. "The Congress party itself is surprised."

"There are 1.2 billion people in India," he explained. "They are very important to God, and He worked."

The Christian leader who hails from Kerala contended that the upshot of the elections were the result of 'much prayer'. "Christians have been praying, and God answered their prayers. That's what happened," he said.

On the incumbent Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, K.P. said, "I believe that the prime minister will lead the country to greater freedom for minorities, their rights will be protected and the country will have greater economic good."

However, he says, "we need to continue to pray according to Romans 13â€"to pray for the government officials, that God will bless them and that Christians in India will have increased freedom to exercise their faith."

"Christians around the world should be concerned and pray for India, first of all because it is the key nation in the region," Dr. Yohannan noted. "What happens in India affects all of the surrounding countriesâ€"and ultimately the world."

"But beyond that, we need to pray for India because of the Kingdom's work. India and South Asia are in the heart of the 10/40 windowâ€"the region of the world with the most people who have never heard the name of Jesus. Christians need to be in prayer that the doors will remain open to share the message of God's love with Asia's lost billions."

The month-long general election that saw some 713 million Indians exercise their franchise is termed as one of the most 'historic' and 'successful' elections in the country

Christians along with other minorities have expressed great satisfaction over the victory of a secular party especially after the drubbing of Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.