Jharkhand chief minister allays Christian fears over BJP alliance

(January 7, 2010) Jharkhand state's new chief minister, Shibu Soren, who took power in alliance with the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has told Catholic bishops the Church has his full support. "I appreciate the work the Church is doing in Jharkhand under their leadership. I need their prayers and support," he told UCA News. Soren, leader of the regional Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, the liberation front, told a delegation of bishops his government would help the Church acquire land for a medical school and a 500-bed hospital in the state. He also assured them the education and health ministries would be in "good hands" after the bishops voiced concern that the BJP planned to take over these ministries. Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo of Ranchi, who led a six-member delegation in calling on Mr. Soren on January 5^th, said that he has known the tribal politician for many decades and the two became friends when he was bishop of Dumka, Soren's native region. "He has a special love for the Church," the cardinal said. "We explained to him how the Church had faced problems under the earlier BJP government. He praised the Church's work in Jharkhand and assured us his government would give full support to it." Under the previous BJP regime, the government completely neglected the Church," Cardinal Toppo said. But he added that the meeting with Soren, who he described as "our man," had been reassuring. Soren became chief minister on December 30 after a four-phased election ended in a divided verdict. He formed the Government with the support of BJP and the All Jharkhand Students Union.