Christians raise doubts over BJP's inter-faith forum proposal

Christian leaders, although welcomed the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) offer to form an inter-faith forum, have raised doubts over its motive in divulging it during the time of election.

The BJP in its election manifesto said it would initiate the setting up of a permanent inter-faith consultative mechanism to promote harmony and trust between communities.

"This mechanism will also be used for a sustained and sincere inter-faith dialogue between leaders of the Hindu and Christian communities on all issues of life, including the issue of religious conversions," the manifesto read.

Babu Joseph, spokesperson for the Delhi-based Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), said, there are already such mechanisms in place to promote inter-faith consultation and communal harmony. He questioned if there was any need for a separate mechanism.

The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) also raised doubts over the citation in the manifesto. "We welcome the idea of inter-religious dialogue, but it should not be tied to any political agenda. The BJP's stand on minority issues is well known, so what do they want at election time?'' Bishop Taranath Sagar, president of the NCCI was quoted as saying.

"The promotion of harmony among minorities should not involve only a Hindu-Christian dialogue, but also other minorities, particularly Muslims,'' he opined.

For John Dayal, secretary of the All India Christian Council, the offer seeks to reopen the constitutional guarantees of freedom of faith. Why is there any need to discuss this issue? he asked.

Some political analysts note that the citing of conversions and such a forum by the BJP might be to woo the minority community. As the month-long elections have begun today, the BJP as well as the ruling UPA government is vying for success in forming a new government.