Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Aug 29: Anti-Christian remarks in the public speech of BJP MLA of Khanapur constituency (Belgaum) on Independence Day has been condemned by the district unit of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
BJP MLA of Khanapur constitutency Prahlad Ramani’s vow to ‘weed out Christianity' was condemned by the convener of the Bahujan Samaj Party’s Udupi-Chikamagalur Parliamentary constituency Steven John Menezes.
Prahlad Ramani had said that ‘Christians are the seeds left by the British and are spreading Christianity systematically through educational institutions’ and cautioned the people of other communities to remain watchful about the spread of Christianity.
It is a national shame that an elected representative who is part of the BJP government threatened the Christian community on a special day like Independence Day during his official speech, Menezes said. Statements linking the British with Indian Christians and alleging the spread of Christianity through educational institutions is unfounded, he affirmed.
Menezes also said that it was unfortunate that the speaker ignored the fact that Christianity is known to have existed in India five centuries prior to the arrival of British in India. The Christian population in India amounts to only around 2.4% and their contribution to the nation and service to humanity in the form of education, health and fighting for the rights for the marginalized amounts to 50% of the total service rendered. The contribution of Christian educational institutes to the nation is much acknowledged as the institutions are known to impart quality education to everyone irrespective of caste, creed and religion, upholding only the human dignity, he said.
The elected representative should have used the platform to express concern about the growing inflation, unemployment, power, water and other crucial issues like environment and importance of infrastructure development, than spreading hatred among masses which can imbalance regional peace and harmony. The government should take serious note of such irresponsible utterances of their elected representatives and take appropriate action and ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future, Menezes said.