Press Release by Shri L. K. Advani
Leader of the Opposition (Lok Sabha)

26 April, 2008

Shri L.K. Advani, Leader of the Opposition (Lok Sabha) today strongly refuted the propaganda that the BJP is “anti-minorities”, and appealed to Christians to join and support the party. “Those who call the BJP ‘communal’, ‘anti-minorities’ and ‘anti-Christian’ are spreading falsehood for their own ulterior motives. Let me make it very clear that we respect Christianity, we revere Jesus Christ for his message of universal peace, love and brotherhood, and we deeply value the contribution of our Christian brethren both to India’s freedom struggle and to India’s nation-building in the post-Independence era.”

Shri Advani was speaking as the chief guest at a function in Kottayam (Kerala) today to celebrate the Navathy — 91st birthday — of Rt. Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom, Valia Metropolitan of Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar. He said on the occasion: “I am indeed blessed that I have come to pay tributes to His Holiness who embodies faith, love, happiness, experience, compassion, wisdom and, above all, boundless enthusiasm.”

Mar Thoma Church, as the name suggests, was blessed by Saint Thomas, one of the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ, who brought gospel to the coast of Malabar in 52 AD.

Newspapers had reported a few days ago that some people in Kerala protested against Mar Thoma Church inviting Shri Advani to participate in the function. The former Deputy Prime Minister referred to these reports and gave many examples to debunk the propaganda that the BJP is “anti-Christian”.

He recalled that when Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee formed the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (predecessor to the BJP) in 1951, he appointed Barrister V.K. John as the chief of the Jana Sangh in Madras province. Barrister John, incidentally, was a classmate of Dr. Mookerjee in Calcutta. “The same propaganda was also heard at the time. Barrister John was asked: ‘How can you, a Christian, accept to be an office-bearer of a communal party?’ His answer was forthright: ‘I know Dr. S.P. Mookerjee very well. He cannot be the president of a communal party.’”

Shri Advani also recalled the presidential address of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya — whom he called his “political guru” - at the Jana Sangh’s Calicut session in 1967, in which the latter had emphasized that “our party cares equally for every section of Indian society, because all are ‘flesh of our flesh and blood of our blood’.”

Shri Advani gave the example of how the BJP-led NDA had first chosen Dr. P.C. Alexander — “an illustrious son of Kerala” — as its candidate for the 2002 Presidential election. “Dr. Alexander was never known for his proximity to the BJP. Rather, he had served as the Principal Secretary under two Congress Prime Ministers — Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.” Nevertheless, he said, the BJP chose Dr. Alexander as its Presidential candidate “in recognition of his scholarship and long and distinguished service to the nation”.

"It is another matter,” he added, “that we had to later nominate Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam as our candidate, since the Congress party refused to support Dr. Alexander’s candidature.”

Shri Advani traced his own long association with Mar Thoma Church since the time of the Emergency in 1975-77, when he spent 19 months in jail along with thousands of pro-democracy activists. “I remember that Mar Thoma Church was one of the religious organisations that had openly opposed the Emergency. I had praised the church for its bold stand.”

Shri Advani stressed in his speech that religious freedom and national unity, based on common culture, can co-exist. "I greatly admire Mar Thoma Church for its long tradition of preserving and strengthening its native Indian personality. You share your faith with people in many countries in the world. However, in culture, you are fundamentally and proudly Indian."

Shri Advani called for expanding inter-faith dialogue to promote the tradition of mutual tolerance and respect, peaceful coexistence, national solidarity and common endeavor for common good. “I believe that every faith has something valuable to offer and we should have an open mind to absorb the best in every faith.”