BJP Is Neither Anti-minority Nor Anti-Christian: Advani

KOTTAYAM, Kerala, APR. 28, 2008, 17.20 Hrs (SAR News):

Leader of the Opposition in the Lower House of Parliament, Lal Krishna Advani, has said the charges that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was anti-minority and anti-Christian were "totally baseless".

He was inaugurating the 91st birthday celebrations of the senior Metropolitan of the Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church, Philipose Mar Chrysostum, April 26 here.

There was a difference of opinion among the Church dignitaries and the laity on inviting Advani to inaugurate the Navathy celebrations. A section of the Church personnel and the laity had even come out with a press statement questioning Advani's presence at the function.

Dismissing the criticism, Advani made it clear that the "anti-minority" allegations were part of propaganda against the BJP.

"I belong to a party or movement which has been for the past many years subjected to criticisms which have no basis. I don't blame them," the BJP's former president said.

Advani said his association with the Mar Thoma Church was "pretty old" since the Emergency period when the Church was in the forefront of opposing the crackdown.

Stressing the need for expanding and intensifying inter-faith dialogues, he pointed out that the Navathy celebrations itself was such an event where leaders from various communities had gathered.

Advani also distributed keys of the houses built under the Navathy Housing Scheme and said there was no better way of celebrating Mar Chrysostum's birthday than building houses for the poor and needy.