Team News Riveting
Kochi, March 15
The much-publicised meeting between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and representatives of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church failed to take place on Sunday as the BJP was playing card to its chest to expand its political reach in Kerala.
The simmering differences among Churches in Kerala had prevented the BJP to bet on the Jacobites. The BJP central leadership had inputs that if it held any parleys with the Jacobite faction, it might antagonise the Orthodox faction and would reflect in the upcoming Assembly polls in Kerala. The BJP is eyeing support from the Orthodox faction, especially in Thiruvalla.
The Union government had been trying to find a solution between warring Jacobite Syrian Christian Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church for possession of over 1000 churches and its properties. While the Orthodox faction has stuck to their demand that a 2017 Supreme Court order should be implemented, the Jacobite faction has alleged that the Orthodox faction was “misinterpreting” the order and “taking over” their churches unethically.
After a Jacobite Church synod meeting last Tuesday, church spokesperson Kuriakose Mar Theophilos said that the church was open to the BJP also in the upcoming election. “It is a matter of survival of the Jacobite Syrian Church and our faith. The church has no untouchability towards any political front including the BJP. The earlier discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders have been fruitful. The church supports whoever would ensure justice to the Jacobite Church. The church is providing an opportunity for the BJP to solve the issue,” he added.
The representatives of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church had reached Delhi to hold talks with top leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) including Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday. Church sources said that they had decided to announce the church’s stand for the Assembly elections after the meeting with Amit Shah. But when the meeting failed, the church decided to continue its stand of equi-distance in this election.
