The BJP has been trying to breach Kerala, so far the impregnable final frontier in the country for the party, by courting Christians, culminating in a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seven bishops in the state on Monday.

But voices of dissent within the community have begun to crystallise with some speaking out against what they see as pliable and self-serving clergy seeking to toe the BJP’s line with ulterior motives.

Some Church leaders representing multiple denominations — including the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, Mar George Alencherry; and the Archbishop of the Thalassery Diocese of the same church, Joseph Pamplany — are among those who were seen warming up to the BJP.

Although groups echoing the Sangh parivar’s cause have often baited Christians in Right-wing strongholds and accused the community of engaging in mass proselytisation of Hindus, the BJP feels that if Kerala’s unique countervailing religious balance can be unsettled, it has a chance to open its Lok Sabha account in the state.

The two influential minority communities account for 50 per cent (Muslims around 30 per cent and Christians around 20 per cent) and Hindus around 50 per cent of the population. With a significant section of Hindus supporting the Left, faith-based politics has not worked well so far, except in some minority-dominated regions, although caste does hold sway in several seats.

It is against this backdrop that the BJP has launched an outreach towards Christians with Modi casting himself in the lead role by visiting a cathedral in New Delhi on Easter Sunday. Modi’s Monday meeting with the bishops is being seen as a high-optics follow-up mission.

In an extensive interview with the online publication, Jagruthayude Keraleeyam, which picks up issues the legacy media underplay and highlights the plight of the marginalised, Biju Thomas, a resource person at the National Biblical, Catechetical and Liturgical Centre (NBCLC), Bangalore, noted that the Catholic clergy in Kerala needed to realise that they were duty-bound to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ and the Pope in treating everyone equally.

The NBCLC conducts seminars, retreats and workshops. Along with its original focus on the Bible, catechetics and liturgy, the centre has broadened its areas to social and spiritual aspects.

“No bishop has ever been attacked in the name of Christianity. All those who have been harassed and attacked are the laity and priests like Fr Stan Swamy,” Thomas reminded the bishops who have appeared overzealous in meeting BJP leaders. Fr Stan, an 84-year-old Jesuit priest and tribal rights defender, died in custody while waiting for bail in 2021.

“We also need to examine what the Church did at that point. Other than sending some emails, these bishops did nothing…. And now our Church leaders are promising to vote for the BJP if rubber price is increased to Rs 300,” Thomas said. “How are these bishops even able to support the agenda of those who call for the revocation of the Bharat Ratna accorded to Mother Teresa?”

Thomas was referring to the offer by Pamplany, the archbishop, last month to help the BJP win a Lok Sabha seat in Kerala if the party promised to increase the minimum support price of rubber to Rs 300 a kilo. Many of those associated with the Syro-Malabar Church are engaged in rubber cultivation.

Thomas attributed the newfound friendship between certain Church leaders and the BJP to the fear of persecution since “they have erred”. Thomas alluded to the 16 criminal cases related to the alleged misappropriation of church property against Alencherry and how the Supreme Court has ordered him to stand trial.

“One reason is that several Church leaders are under the cloud of suspicion…. Several of them have transcended their spiritual boundaries for materialistic pursuits,” Thomas said.

“Alencherry is facing cases filed by the ED and under the FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act). They (the bishops) fear a power like the Union government that is capable of sending even the deputy chief minister of Delhi (Manish Sisodia) to jail in the liquor scam. The BJP is trying to influence the Church by using these issues. Our Church leaders are buckling under pressure since they have erred. They need not have feared anyone had they been on the right path,” Thomas said.

“Even politicians resign when there is an adverse decision from the courts. But continuing as the major archbishop is morally incorrect,” Thomas noted.

In a video message released on Tuesday, Alencherry sought to play down any political significance in the meeting with Modi and said: “The Prime Minister gave a patient hearing to all the issues.”

“The meeting with the Prime Minister was a cordial one. He spoke to us openly. He told us that as far as he is concerned, India is one and Kerala should be ready to cooperate with him for its development projects.

“We apprised him of the needs of the Christians and the people of Kerala, we raised the issues faced by the farmers, coastal people, fishermen. We also discussed reservation for the poorest of the poor. There was a special mention of Dalit Christians,” Alencherry said.

“When we raised the matter of isolated attacks on Christians in north India, he assured us of protection for everyone from all faiths in India,” Alencherry added.