NEW DELHI: The Archbishop of Gujarat's Gandhinagar said today that the electorate in the state should "vote for those open to secularism", reported ANI.
The Archbishop Thomas Macwan made the comment in response to a TOI story today saying that he wrote a letter to the state's churches "to help save our country from nationalist forces". That comment was widely seen as an anti-BJP one.
Therefore, Macwan sought to clarify the issue today - in addition to earlier doing the same for TOI's article - insisting he isn't talking about any party in particular.
"My appeal is not against any party or in favour of any party. I have just asked people to vote according to their conscience and vote for those who are more open to secularism and constitutional values," said Macwan.
Earlier today, TOI reported that Macwan wrote a letter, dated November 21, to churches and bishops in poll-bound Gujarat, saying there is a growing sense of insecurity among minorities, OBCs and the poor, among others.
He confirmed he wrote the letter, in which he calls the Gujarat elections "significant for the future course of our country".
In the letter, Macwan also urged people to organise prayer services in parishes and convents "so that people, who would remain faithful to our Indian Constitution and respect every human being without any discrimination, are elected to the Gujarat state assembly."
Yesterday, he told TOI the letter was for circulation internally among churches and Bishops. When asked whether he was referring to a particular party when he used the words "nationalist forces", he denied it.
"How can that be? My whole appeal to all is to pray that we don't elect narrow-minded people and pray that a government that has welfare of the state and its people its priority is elected."
Only 2%-3% of Gujarat's population is Christian.
The Archbishop Thomas Macwan made the comment in response to a TOI story today saying that he wrote a letter to the state's churches "to help save our country from nationalist forces". That comment was widely seen as an anti-BJP one.
Therefore, Macwan sought to clarify the issue today - in addition to earlier doing the same for TOI's article - insisting he isn't talking about any party in particular.
"My appeal is not against any party or in favour of any party. I have just asked people to vote according to their conscience and vote for those who are more open to secularism and constitutional values," said Macwan.
Earlier today, TOI reported that Macwan wrote a letter, dated November 21, to churches and bishops in poll-bound Gujarat, saying there is a growing sense of insecurity among minorities, OBCs and the poor, among others.
He confirmed he wrote the letter, in which he calls the Gujarat elections "significant for the future course of our country".
In the letter, Macwan also urged people to organise prayer services in parishes and convents "so that people, who would remain faithful to our Indian Constitution and respect every human being without any discrimination, are elected to the Gujarat state assembly."
Yesterday, he told TOI the letter was for circulation internally among churches and Bishops. When asked whether he was referring to a particular party when he used the words "nationalist forces", he denied it.
"How can that be? My whole appeal to all is to pray that we don't elect narrow-minded people and pray that a government that has welfare of the state and its people its priority is elected."
Only 2%-3% of Gujarat's population is Christian.
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