Kerala church has expressed grief after a local committee's banner in the Idukki carried a sacred heart image of Jesus Christ with a verse, "Love your neighbor as yourself".
The banner of the local committee Communist Party of India (Marxist), erected on an electric pole at Vandanmedu, was photographed and posted online, which went viral in no time.
According to TOI, the use of Bible verse and Jesus' image in political banners is yet another strategy adopted by the party to draw Christian votes.
Though the banner was taken down, the church expressed unhappiness.
"Political parties use such symbols to nurse people's religious sentiments for political gains. But such actions are harming society. It's always better we keep politics and religion apart," said Fr Varghese Vallikkatt, official spokesperson Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC).
"The CPM is portraying itself as a secular party but such acts betray its original thoughts. Political parties shouldn't play with religious sentiments. The aim of raising such religious symbols is merely to achieve political gain," he added.
