The Hindu : It's Neelamegavarnam turn to seek bishop's blessings

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 14, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

It's Neelamegavarnam turn to seek bishop's blessings

By P. Sudhakar

Tirunelveli Feb. 13. Barely 48 hours after the Congress candidate for the Sattankulam byelection, A. Mahendran, sought the "blessings and support'' of the Tirunelveli CSI Bishop, S. Jayapaul David, the AIADMK nominee, L. Neelamegavarnam, today called on him at his official residence in Palayamkottai seeking his "prayers and blessings''.

Talking to mediapersons, the AIADMK MP, P. H. Pandian, who introduced the candidate to the bishop, said he had assured Rev. Jayapaul David that Christians would not be affected by the recently-enacted anti-conversion law and that people, who were prospering in the name of religion alone, would be taken to task.

"The Congress, which introduced a similar law in Madhya Pradesh and Orissa in the past, is vehemently opposing the Tamil Nadu legislation only with an eye on the Christian vote bank".

Mr. Pandian claimed that the bishop had assured the delegation — which included the Ministers, S. Karuppasamy and A. Miller, and the MLAs, Pachiammal and Paul Manoj Pandian, — support to the AIADMK candidate.

However, the Bishop later told The Hindu that he had not given assurance to anyone on supporting a particular candidate.

" I, as a bishop, just blessed both the candidates as they sought my prayers and blessings. I can't support the candidate of a particular party, since I am only a spiritual leader and not a political boss.''

As Christians, especially CSI Christians, form a sizable vote bank in the constituency, the Congress and the AIADMK are so keen on securing clergy support to demonstrate their `intimacy' with the community.

Support for AIADMK

Meanwhile, the Ambedkar Makkal Iyakkam has decided to back the AIADMK candidate. The party functionaries will work for his victory, the founder-president, V. Balasundaram, told the media here today.

"Though the anti-conversion law has been enacted to prohibit forcible conversions, Dalit Christians are being misguided", he charged without naming the Puthiya Tamizhagam chief, Krishnasamy, and the Dalit Panthers of India general secretary, R. Tirumavalavan.

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