by Santosh Digal

Fr Anand Muttungal, head of public relations for the Bishops’ Conference of Madhya Pradesh, appeals to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, from the BJP, hoping that his request in favour of the separation of state and religion be heard.

Bhopal (AsiaNews) – It is necessary to teach all religions in Madhya Pradesh schools, not only Hinduism, in order to “promote harmony and peace” in the community, said Fr Anand Muttungal, head of public relations of the state-wide Bishops’ Conference, in an appeal to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan.

Mr Chauhan belongs to the Hindu ultranationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has always been hostile to Christians in the state. The chief minister has in fact approved many laws and decrees that “irk” the Christian minority, and has accused the Church of having an attitude of discrimination.

Fr Muttungal would like to see “adequate steps taken to insure the separation of state and religion in the constitution of Madhya Pradesh to make it a prosperous state.”

For instance, the clergyman suggests that at the start of every official ceremony, a prayer from each religion, not only Hinduism, be read.

• india
• madhya
• pradesh
• anand
• muttungal
• shivraj
• singh
• chauhan
• appeal
• separation
• state
• religion
• hinduism
• christianity
• minority