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Rajasthan BJP chief has talks with Bishop

Special Correspondent

Bid to resolve rift between BJP, Christians

Rajasthan BJP president.Mahesh Sharma(right) with Bishop Oswald Lewis(in cassock) in Jaipur.

JAIPUR: Rajasthan BJP president Mahesh Sharma and Catholic Bishop of Jaipur Oswald Lewis met here on Tuesday marking a thaw in relations between the ruling party in the State and the Christian community. The Bishop and the BJP chief, who met at a "neutral place" -- the residence of a functionary of the BJP Minority Morcha — discussed various issues for about two hours over tea.

This is the first time a senior religious leader of the Christian community has had a patient hearing from any BJP functionary in the State in the wake of the recent attacks on its members and the institutions run by it. Despite many attempts, the community leaders could not so far meet Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

Dr.Sharma was alone from the party — other than Rodney Castellas at whose house the meeting took place — while two senior priests, Edward Oliviera and Father James of the Jaipur Diocese, accompanied the Bishop.

Curiously enough, both sides did not mention the controversial Rajasthan Religious Freedom Bill, 2006, passed by the State Assembly in April this year and now pending with Governor Pratibha Patil, who had once sent it back to the Government referring it for consideration of the President of India.

"We had a little discussion over a cup of tea" is how Bishop Lewis put it when contacted. "We briefed him on the activities of the Church in Rajasthan and the services rendered by the community in the field of education, health and development." The Bishop also narrated the recent incidents of attacks on Christians, especially in the tribal belt in South Rajasthan, and pointed out that irrespective of the good work by the nuns, priests and laity in the rural areas, they were being targeted by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

"I requested him to advise the RSS and the VHP to not to take the law into their hands. If something unlawful is done, be it any denomination of Christians, legal action could be initiated," Bishop Lewis said. "We consider every Indian a Hindu. We do not have any problems with Indians practising religions other than Hinduism as long as he or she follows Indian traditions and culture," Dr. Sharma told the Bishop.

According to Mr. Castellas, treasurer of the BJP Minority Morcha, the meeting ended on a positive note.

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