Manoj Pradhan, in jail for leading riots against Christians last year in Orissa, seems to have won a seat in the state assembly in India's general elections.
But overall, India's Christians have reason to be happy with the election. Dara Singh, who was convicted of leading Graham Staines' murder, was not permitted to run.
More importantly, most of the election results showed a distaste for right-wing Hinduism and support of the non-religious Congress Party. The BJP, a Hindu nationalist party, was defeated quite solidly. The Washington Post reports that they are re-evaluating their support of candidates who support anti-Christian and anti-Muslim violence.
Manmohan Singh, the incumbent, is set for a second term as prime minister. The New York Times reports that India's stock market surged after the announcement the Congress party won 205 of 543 seats in Parliament. A near-majority means the party no longer has to "rely on India's Communist parties to stay in power." Those Communist parties won about 80 seats, and the BJP, 159.
share thisPosted by Susan Wunderink on May 18, 2009 3:18PM
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"But overall, India’s Christians have reason to be happy with the election... More importantly, most of the election results showed a distaste for right-wing Hinduism and support of the non-religious Congress Party."
Interesting that in a country where Christians are a minority, they appreciate the value of a "non-religious" party where in this country, judging by some of the articles, and many of the comments, conservative Christians want their government and their President to be explicitly religious. Dr. Dobson and his cohorts might learn a lesson or two on the dangers of explicitly religious parties and politicians from our Indian Christian brothers and sisters.
Posted by: Christian Lawyer at May 20, 2009
The prior commenter apparently knows nothing about Indian politics. The reason "our Indian Christian brothers and sisters" prefer a "non religious" gov't is due to vicious persecution of minorities such as Christians and Muslims by the former BJP Hindutva brigade all over the country. They either actively engaged in such activities or looked the other way when they knew what fringe groups were doing to physically harm Christians and their homes/churches. I would hardly compare that to evangelicals in America trying to stem the tide by participating in the process and letting their voice be heard as well. Regardless, thank God the Congress party has been reelected in India.
Posted by: Bharath at May 21, 2009
Bharath, your explanation proves my point. When majority religious parties are in control, there is no one to stop their excesses. When Christians are in the minority, they need the protection of a non-religious party. In this country, we promise that protection to religious minorities, but many evangelical Christians here forget how religious and other minorities (not to mention many Christians) in the US fear the obvious efforts of some evangelical Christians to make the Republican Party and ultimately our federal government explicitly Christian. If you believe the evangelical movement in the 80's and 90's and 2000's was just "letting their voice be heard," rather than explicitly striving to Christianize the Republican Party and the Presidency, then it is you who know nothing of American politics.
Posted by: Christian Lawyer at May 21, 2009
Okay CL, I hear you. Personally, I am disillusioned by both parties. But what "excesses" do you think evangelicals would be party to? Protecting the unborn? While I believe we shouldn't take our focus off preaching the Gospel and serving others, I see the efforts you mentioned over the last couple of decades as a movement where Christians cared enough to get involved. I don't see the Indian situation and evangelical participation in politics in America as remotely similar...
Posted by: Bharath at May 21, 2009
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