(A letter to Editor published in oHeraldo, May 24, 2018
Even a call to prayer and fasting from the Archbishop of Delhi for the well being of the nation and its politics seems to be threatening for the BJP and its allied Hindutva forces. When no particular reference has been made to any political party or politician, the reaction and attack from the BJP and its allied motor-mouths against the Archbishop is a little surprising.
Is it the case of a 'guilty conscience pricking the mind' or is it a case of 'chor ka oolta shor'? If not so, then how has the BJP deduced that the letter of the Archbishop applies to itself and is a call to vote against the Modi government? Unfortunately, the Church in its defence has failed to remind the BJP how similar appeals to its followers to oppose the policies and corruption of the UPA government prior to 2014 was never seen by the BJP as interference in politics.
The BJP also needs to be educated that the appeal of the Archbishop is not a 'fatwa' as the freedom to political action is left to the discernment and prudence of each individual. Instead of providing credible facts to disprove the concerns raised in the letter of the Archbishop and allay the fears of the minorities, the BJP has adopted the path of outright denial and bullying of the minorities into silence.
Soter D'Souza,
Porvorim
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