Prime Minister Narendra Modi lights a candle at Sacred Heart Cathedral Catholic Church during his visit, in New Delhi, on Sunday, April 9, 2023. PTI
New Delhi, April 9
In a major signal of solidarity with the Christians Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited the famous Sacred Heart Cathedral Church in Delhi and prayed on the occasion of Easter Sunday.
The PM spent around half an hour at the church, meeting the leadership at the Cathedral and listening to Eastern hymns. He later planted a sapling.
Father Francis Swaminathan of the Sacred Heart Cathedral said this was the first time a PM had visited the church.
“PM is the pride of India. It’s a matter of great joy that he came. This is a reflection of the government’s Sabka Saath Sabka Vishwas policy and a way to express solidarity with the minorities and Christians. It’s a message that he is very much for the minorities and Christians and a message that we are treated as equals,” Father Swaminathan said.
PM’s visit came at a time of the ruling BJP’s conscious Christian outreach with the BJP workers in Kerala also reaching out to the community during Easter.
The PM had recently hailed BJP’s and allies’ positive poll performance in Christian dominated Nagaland and Meghalaya and declared that soon Kerala would also elect a BJP coalition.
BJP’s ideological mentor RSS is also simultaneously expanding its minority outreach.
The developments are crucial in a year when six states go to polls followed by 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
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