Dampa bypoll: Charges fly between BJP & Cong over religious, political issues

Aizawl: BJP and Congress started trading charges and counter-charges during the hustings in the by-election to the Dampa assembly seat.Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Lal Thanzara on Thursday lashed out at Union minister George Kurian’s remark that BJP is “not anti-Christian”, saying his statement was far removed from the realities faced by Christians in the country.Addressing a public meeting at West Phaileng village during the Congress campaign, Lal Thanzara said, “We all know BJP is not a party Mizo Christians can comfortably vote for. The ground truth is very different from what Kurian claims.”He alleged that under the BJP-led govt, Christian missionaries across India are facing growing harassment and restrictions. “Many have become so fearful that they now identify themselves as NGO workers instead of missionaries,” he said.The veteran Congress leader urged Kurian to speak to RSS, Bajrang Dal and VHP, “who continue to persecute Christian missionaries,” and to use his influence to stop such acts.Lal Thanzara also accused the BJP-led central govt of targeting Christian institutions, citing the recent case of the Mizoram Presbyterian Synod, which was reportedly asked to pay income tax.“Even church leaders were summoned and questioned by central tax authorities,” he said.

“The Synod has had to issue advisories to churches to be cautious. Such a thing never happened in 60 years of Congress rule in India.”Addressing an election campaign rally at Darlung village on Wednesday, Kurian said he was surprised that BJP was being wrongly portrayed in Mizoram as an anti-Christian party. “I joined BJP back in 1980. I am from Kerala and I am a true Christian. I have never faced any discrimination or difficulty as a Christian within BJP,” Kurian told the gathering. “To say that BJP is against Christians is nothing but political propaganda.

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