approved: TouaregVr6 From: Vicki <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: GoaNet <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Goa polls -- BJP worried over Church influence
Goa polls: BJP worried over church influence From Devika Sequeira DH News Service PANAJI, May 26 Keen to gain the acceptance of the minority vote, senior BJP leaders from Delhi have grown worried over the influence the Catholic Church could exert at this crucial stage of the Goa election. Voting is just four days away. Catholics make for 30 per cent of the electorate here, with another five per cent represented by Muslims. A BJP central minister told this correspondent that the feedback had not been favourable to the BJP. "The church gave us to understand that they were unhappy with the Congress for renominating defectors. But they are far more disturbed about Gujarat," he said. How deep runs the mistrust after Gujarat, is apparent from the views of the spokesman of the Church Fr Carmo Martins. "The BJP has failed to make it clear by its actions that it is any different in Goa," he told this newspaper today. He said the church had been disappointed by BJP Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's "complete silence" on the killing of minorities in Gujarat. "He did not even condemn it, and what's worse, is that the prime minister tried to justify it as a natural outcome of Godhra." The Goa church had earlier issued a circular asking voters to reject corrupt candidates, defectors and those with a communal bias. It has changed its stance since and is asking voters here to reject outright those responsible for the Gujarat carnage. "Our appeal to the voter today is to choose between the lesser of the two evils. And corruption is certainly less dangerous than communalism," said Fr Martins. "We can never support those who want to force religious minorities to live in fear," he added. Unfazed by criticism for its vocal stance in this election, the church said politics was part of the "life of the Church" and it would continue to play a role in it
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