Christians welcome fall of Hindu coalition government
New Delhi (AsiaNews/CWN) - Catholic leaders in India have welcomed the surprising results of national elections that resulted in the defeat of the Hindu-nationalist ruling coalition.
"The election result shows beyond doubt that democracy is very much alive and deeply rooted in the secular ethos of the country," said Father Donald De Souza, spokesman for the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI). By voting out the coalition government dominated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he said, the "Indian electorate has expressed their preference to have a secular democratic government, and not a sectarian government."
According to the latest available vote tallies, the BJP's coalition government is assured of only 187 seats in the nation's parliament, whereas it currently holds 302 seats in the 545-member body.
Meanwhile the opposition Congress Party has staged a comeback, and seems poised to capture 220 seats. The Communist Party, which is leading in 65 other seats, has already indicated that it is ready to join the Congress Party in a coalition that would head a stable, secular government.
During six years of rule by the BJP government coalition, India has witnessed a spurt in violence against religious minorities, and an alarming increase in propaganda aimed against Christians and Muslims.
Father De Souza said that the CBCI "welcomes this verdict wholeheartedly and congratulates the voters for making clear their option for a secular government."
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