CBCI congratulates Narendra Modi and the BJP

Catholic Bishops' Conference of India "congratulated Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for their victory," said His Beatitude Mar Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) as he spoke about the  country’s recent election.

Addressing directly the new administration, the prelate, who is major archbishop of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankara Church, and president of the CBCI the apex body of the Catholic church  pledged to "renew the commitment, brotherly dialogue and mission to serve the country as the Catholic Church in India has always done."  Archbishop Albert D'Souza of Agra,  the secretary-general of the CBCI  said "the church should not be unduly concerned. We should not be alarmed or be scared." Explaining that the church has a "prophetic role" to play, the archbishop added that "the challenge before the church is to take a stand and remain alert to ensure that the sanctity of the constitution is upheld."

 The BJP won a clear majority of 284 seats from the 543 parliament seats at stake, while the National Democratic Alliance it heads with other parties totaled 334 seats. Polling occurred in nine phases from April 7 to May 12. On the other hand, the Congress party, which has ruled India for a decade, claimed only 47 seats compared to the 206 seats it had won in the 2009 election. "This result shows the maturity of the Indian electorate. The people have given a decisive verdict for a change," Archbishop D'Souza said.