Lok Sabha Polls: Stormclouds gather over church in India

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Indian-CatholicsBy Elizabeth Kendal / Assist News Service

VOTING for India’s 16th Lok Sabha will be held in nine phases between 7 April and 12 May. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — the political wing of the Hindutva forces (collectively known as the Sangh Parivar) — is poised for a landslide win.

While the BJP lost the 2004 and 2009 Lok Sabha elections, it was not because Hindutva was in decline. Favoured to win in 2004, the BJP’s narrow loss — only evident in the last phase of voting — was a complete surprise. Then in April-May 2009, the BJP lost narrowly yet again despite being expected to win. Clearly their belligerent rhetoric after the November 2008 Mumbai terror attack frightened many voters. Meanwhile, the Sangh Parivar’s unchallenged activism has ensured Hindutva’s advance, despite the BJP’s losses. Sadly, the inept and corrupt Congress-led UPA government has failed to arrest or even address the spread of Hindutva, wasting two terms in office (ten years) as violent persecution of Christians has escalated and spread nationwide.

Also read: Lok Sabha Polls 2014: Who will Christians vote for?

The BJP’s candidate for Prime Minister is Gujarat Chief Minister and Hindutva hardliner, Narendra Modi. One of India’s most divisive and sectarian figures, Modi was Chief Minister (CM) of Gujarat in February 2002 when Hindutva forces incited a Hindu pogrom that left as many as 2,000 Muslims dead. Modi was also Gujarat’s CM in February 2006 when Hindutva forces propagated the slogan ‘Hindu Jago, Christio Bhagao’ (Arise Hindus, throw out the Christians) and set the stage for a pogrom against Christians in Dangs. Calling upon Hindus to kill Christians just as the Hindu god Ram killed the demon Ravana, the Hindutva ideologues aimed to deal a ‘death blow’ to Christian missionary activity in Dangs (see RLM Jan & Feb 2006). Praise God He answered the prayers of many and the deadly plot of the Hindutva protagonists failed.

To hide his rabid sectarianism and to woo minorities, Modi is running on an anti-corruption, pro-economic development platform (see RLM, 2 Oct 2013). Enormously popular, Modi could well be India’s new Prime Minister by mid-May. Should the BJP win power, it will doubtless move to have anti-conversion legislation at the federal level. Freedom of religion could be redefined along Hindu nationalist lines, so that anti-conversion laws can be fully enacted in accordance with a re-written or re-interpreted constitution. India’s population includes over 70 million Christians (5.8 percent) or possibly as many as 100 million (9 percent) according to Operation World. Furthermore, India is the world’s second largest missionary-sending nation, with some 83,000 Indian missionaries working cross-culturally, mostly in India. The Indian Church stands to be impacted profoundly by these elections.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL —

awaken Indians to the threat and ugliness of Hindutva; may the BJP not win the majority it seeks.

grant the Church in India great wisdom, peace, courage and grace, that the Gospel will continue to go forth, breaking through the darkness and blessed with great effectual power from the Holy Spirit. ‘How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news . . . ‘ (Isaiah 52:7 NIV)

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4 ESV)

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