Joseph Pamplani said that he had made this offer on behalf of the farmers.
Hyderabad:
An influential archbishop of Kerala has offered to help open the BJP’s account in Kerala in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections if the Center hikes the procurement price of rubber to Rs 300 per kg.
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Thalassery Archdiocese in Kannur district, Joseph Pamplani, said he had made the offer on behalf of farmers distressed by falling rubber prices, and not the Catholic Church. He said he had mentioned the BJP as it was the ruling party at the Center and he would welcome such a declaration from any political party.
Welcoming his statement, Kerala BJP chief K Surendran said the Center would respond positively to the suggestion.
Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said the hardline bishop’s statement shows that the BJP is not untouchable for the Christian minority.
“Why was the fanatic bishop trolled after making the statement? They consider minorities, Christians as their vote bank. They want to make Christians their vote bank. This stand is getting exposed,” he said.
The BJP, at a press conference on Monday, slammed the ruling Left Front and the Congress in Kerala for treating Christians in the state like a “vote bank” and not allowing them to express their views freely if they support the party. accused of giving power in the center.
Union minister V Muraleedharan accused the Left and the Congress (the two major parties in the state) of targeting religious Christian leaders whose statements support the BJP. Mr Muraleedharan said that Joseph Pamplani has been targeted for his views, including online.
“Are the CPI(M) and the Congress saying that they (Christian clergy) do not have the freedom to express their views if they indirectly support the Government of India? It is a ridiculous situation that both these parties are being pro-minority. But if Christian leaders speak some facts that may be in favor of the Government of India, they pounce on them,” said the state BJP leader.
He also hit out at the Congress for blaming the BJP for the alleged attacks on churches and said these incidents have come to light from Chhattisgarh, where the country’s main opposition party is in power. He said the BJP is in power in states like Goa and in the Northeast, where Christians are in large numbers.
The minister said that earlier an archbishop, who raised the issue of “Narcotics Jihad”, was also targeted by both the parties.
Speaking at a meeting, which was mostly attended by farmers, Pamplani had said, “No protest has any value in a democracy if it does not translate into votes during elections.” He had said, “We will tell the central government that whatever be your party, we will vote for you, if you can increase the price of rubber to Rs 300. The migrant population will address the issue of lack of MP from here.” Said.
Rubber plantation growers are upset as the cost of production of rubber is reportedly higher than the trade price of Rs 120 to Rs 150 per kg.