| NEW
DELHI (UCAN) -- Christians in India have given a subdued welcome to the new federal
government led by a Hindu nationalist party. President Kocheril Raman Narayanan appointed Atal Bihari Vajpayee of the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, Indian people's party) as the country's 14th prime minister
on March 15.
[...]
Father Antony recognized "some
apprehension and anxiety" among Christians as "inescapable." He told UCA
News March 17 that Christians' fear stems from the Hindu nationalists' past record of
activities.
"They have perfected the art of dividing
communities that have lived together in amity and peace on religious lines, and inciting
communal riots," according to the Jesuit priest.
Hindu nationalists have created trouble in
Christian educational institutions, attacked Church persons and disrupted Christian
gatherings in several parts of the country, he said.
[...]
Bishop Masih said he feared that the BJP
government would ignore the Church's demand for a job quota for India's dalit (low-caste)
Christians, adding, "BJP has been opposing the Church demand all these years."
[...]
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