| NEW
DELHI (UCAN) -- As the world's largest democratic exercise ended in a hung parliament and
politicians scrambled for allies, Church leaders here lamented an absence of genuine
leadership and an erosion of values in India. [...]
"The verdict is not a mandate for
the BJP," asserted Father Pereira, who called secular parties to set aside their
differences and work for the nation's progress at this "crucial stage."
[...]
Reverend Valson Thampu, vice principal of
New Delhi's Protestant-managed St. Stephen's College, said the results favoring the
pro-Hindu party should not alarm Christians, asking them to take "the situation as it
is and see the opportunities it offers for us."
[...]
Expressing regret over "a degeneration of
leadership with vision in India,"
Reverend Thampu urged Churches to train
effective and responsible leaders.
The Church of North India pastor also said
Christians should respect the people's verdict even if it goes against their interests,
adding, "We have a tremendous role to play in educating the people to make the
correct choice."
According to him, this can happen if only
Christians shed their "minority complex and bring economic dynamism and wholeness to
society."
Christians, who form 2.32 percent of
India's 960 million people, enjoy statutory minority rights that allow them to manage
their own educational and cultural institutions. However, Reverend Thampu said Christians
have "consistently abused" those rights and lost the good will of many Indians.
[...]
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