Almost having to defend itself everyday from charges that it is against minority communities, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today pointed to “hundreds” of churches that are being redeveloped at public expense through one of the central government’s schemes.
BJP national secretary Rituraj Sinha today assured the people of Meghalaya, the majority of whom are Christians, that the BJP is not opposed to their religion.
The saffron party won just two seats in the 2018 election and has never won more than three in Meghalaya history. However, it is aiming for double digit returns in the February 27 polls.
While it largely harps on development and being anti-corruption, it is continually faced with charges from rival parties that the BJP is detrimental to the safety and security of Christians in the country.
Sinha, however, said that people forget that the BJP government at the Centre, under the PRASAD scheme, is helping redevelop hundreds of old churches and related institutions.
“People don’t talk about the fact that we have been in government in Nagaland. We haven’t put a ban on food habits of people [there]. We haven’t put any other restrictions that are going to upset the community, so I think there is a lot of rumour mongering. Some people consider that the only way to tackle the BJP is to paint it as communal,” he said.
So long as people’s personal choices – such as regarding food and religion – do not inconvenience any other section of society, the BJP has due respect for them.
