KOCHI: Cardinal George Alencherry, Archbishop of Syro-Malabar Church, has said that the Church did not harbour any untouchability to the BJP. He was speaking to reporters after a group of BJP activists tied ‘Rakhi’ on him on the eve of Rakshabandhan at the headquarters of the Syro-Malabar Church at St. Thomas Mount, Kakkanad , Ernakulam, on Thursday. Ms G. Maheshwari, Ernakulam district president of Mahila Morcha, known for its close ties with the BJP, tied the Rakhi on the cardinal.
“We never practise any ill-will towards anybody,” the cardinal said. “We don’t follow the policy of untouchability towards anyone, including the BJP,” he added. A spokesman of Syro-Malabar Church said that this was not the first time that Rakhi festival was held on its premises. “Last year also, a group of people came for Rakhi Bandhan,” said Fr. Jimmy Poochakkatt. “May be the media was not aware of it,” he added.
The BJP and its outfits are making concerted efforts to be on the right side of the Church establishment in Kerala, which is a bulwark of the Congress-led United Democratic Front. The BJP leadership feels that gaining the confidence of the Church will help the party make a breakthrough in the Christian community, comprising over 20 per cent of the population in the state.
