To counter fears of an “Hindutva invasion” among voters in Nagaland, the BJP has made an election promise to send Christians to Jerusalem on a free trip, if elected to power.
The Congress, seeking a revival in the Christian-dominated State, has promised subsidy for the trip. “We plan to send groups of senior Christian citizens to Jerusalem if our party comes to power,” Nagaland BJP spokesperson James Vizo told The Hindu .
The BJP is facing the February 27 Assembly election as an ally of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, a new regional party. “The pilgrimage for our senior citizens could be free, but that needs to be worked out later,” Mr. Vizo said.
The Congress has announced a subsidy for the trip. “By an Act of the State government, a Board will be established to facilitate minorities to visit the Holy Land at a subsidised cost,” the party’s manifesto said.
Council’s warning
The Holy Land package is believed to be an outcome of the warning issued by the Nagaland Baptist Church Council to voters against Hindutva forces.
In an open letter to the presidents of all political parties contesting the Nagaland election, the council last week alleged “worst persecution of minority communities from 2015 to 2017”.
“We cannot deny that the Hindutva movement in the country has become strong and invasive in the past few years with the BJP, the political wing of the RSS, in power,” the NBCC said.
