Kerala: Violence against Christians likely to hit BJP's outreach programmes to woo the community

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Back-to-back incidents of violence against Malayali Catholic priests and an article in the RSS mouthpiece, Organiser, accusing Christian organizations of using educational and health institutions for conversion could jeopardize the BJP's outreach efforts to win over the community in Kerala.

The Bajrang Dal's attack on a Malayali Catholic priest and the brutal police assault on another priest from Kerala in Jabalpur and Berhampur, both of which are in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh and Odisha respectively, have sparked widespread resentment among the Christian community in the state. Particularly alarming is the Organiser article targeting Christians, which also detailed various institutions and land owned by them across the country.

This comes close on the heels of the Waqf Amendment Bill, which the opposition claims is aimed at the Muslim community. Opposition leaders, including Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi, have branded the "Organiser" article as a warning to Christians in the country.

Just recently, BJP leaders, including Union Ministers Amit Shah, Kiren Rijiju, and J.P. Nadda, were praising themselves in Parliament, suggesting that the Waqf Bill would benefit Christians. They made this statement in light of an indefinite protest by 600 families in Munambam, Kerala, demanding the restoration of revenue rights on land currently claimed as Waqf property.

Around 50 individuals from Munambam also joined the BJP, expressing gratitude to the Centre for passing the Bill.

The BJP, which secured nearly 20 percent of the votes in Kerala during the last Lok Sabha elections, succeeded in winning its first seat, Thrissur. One reason attributed to actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi's victory was the shift in the Christian community's support, which has a significant presence in that constituency.

Traditionally, Christians in Thrissur have supported the Congress party.

To consolidate its newfound support among Christians and other sections in Kerala, Prime Minister Narendra Modi not only inducted Suresh Gopi into the Union Ministry but also included George Kurian as a Christian representative in his Cabinet. Christians, who constitute nearly 19 percent of the state's population, are considered economically, socially, and politically influential, with a significant presence in more than half a dozen districts. They have a decisive say in around 40 to 50 assembly seats across Thrissur, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kollam, and coastal Thiruvananthapuram.

Since 2023, the BJP has intensified its outreach programs aimed at Christians, organizing visits to bishops' and church leaders' homes during Easter and Christmas. Prime Minister Modi attended the Christmas program at the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) headquarters in Delhi in 2023.

Despite these positive gestures from the BJP, some members of the Christian community remain skeptical, especially in light of the violence against churches in Manipur. The recent attacks on priests and controversial article in Organiser, which is not available now on their website, prompted the Left parties and the Congress to warn the Christian community about the motives of the Sangh Parivar.

Many believe that the central and state governments must take strong action against the attackers promptly to allay fears within the Christian community.