Christian leaders meet PM

“The christians are safe”, the leaders quoted the Prime Minister as saying when they came out of the meeting.

The leaders said they met the Prime Minister as the representatives of christian community and not as the heads of various denominations.

The delegation included six bishops and National Commission of Minorities member John Joseph. The team consisted of Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Mathews II, Abraham Mor Clemis of the Knanaya church, Joseph Mar Iraneous who is the Safragon Metropolitan of the Marthoma Church and President of the Christian Conference of Asia, Kottayam Bishop Mar Kuriakose Kunnassery, Thomas Mar Divanasious and Yuhanon Mar Philaxinos who are metropolitans of Jacobite Church.

Refuting the allegations about the loyalty of the community to the nation, they said “we are Indians. And the Prime Minister is our Prime Minister”.

They also reminded the Prime Minister on the role played by the community at Latur and Orissa in the aftermath of earthquake and floods. They also brought to the attention of the Prime Minister the prevailing communal harmony in Kerala to substantiate their claim.

Emerging out of the meeting, the leaders termed it as “cordial and friendly”. Expressing their happiness over the outcome of the meeting, they said controversial issues like the Christian Marriage Bill were not raised in the discussion.

The meeting called at a short notice, put to rest five days of speculation and uncertainity on whether the Prime Minister would meet the religious heads or not.

Though Mr Vajpayee’s visit was termed as purely private, there were indications that he would meet the christian leaders, in a bid to bridge the gap between the christian community and the ruling party.