Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not have done it on his own. Evidently, he has been moved by the likes of Mizoram governor P.S. Sreedharan Pillai to win over a section of Christians in Kerala in view
of the forthcoming assembly elections in the State.
Modi met leaders of the Orthodox Church Synod secretary Dr Yuhanon Mar Diaschorus, Dr Yuhanon Mar Dimetrayos and Dr Thomas Mar Athanasios in Delhi on Monday. He also met the Jacobite church leaders Metropolitan Trustee Joseph Mar Gregorios, Synod Secretary Dr Thomas Mar Thimothios and Media cell Chairman Dr Kriakose Mar Theophilos on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister assured the Christian leaders that he would try his best to solve their problem, which is more than a century old. He told the leaders that they should try to solve the issue within the framework of the Supreme Court verdict on this matter.
The outcome of the talks is anybody’s guess. Further action on the issue has been entrusted to Sreedharan Pillai and V. Muraleedharan, the deputy minister for foreign affairs, both of whom attended the talks.
Modi’s attempt is to impress on the Christian leaders that he and his government are with them. As such, they should back the Bharatiya Janata Party, in the Kerala elections so that the Christians would get the continued support of his government.
One will have to wait and see what impact the talks have made on the Christian leaders and what stand they would take in the Kerala elections.
Meanwhile, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has appreciated the initiative of the Prime Minister saying that since the issue of the churches has often turned into a law and order problem, it is a welcome step.
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