Paul KeenanNarendra Modi sweeps to power
Amid Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) landslide victory in Indian elections, the secretary general of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India said "the Church should not be unduly concerned”.
“We should not be alarmed or be scared," Archbishop Albert D'Souza of Agra said after votes were counted May 16. The BJP, led by Narendra Modi, won a clear majority of 284 seats from the 543 parliament seats at stake, while the National Democratic Alliance it heads with other parties totalled 334 seats. Polling occurred in nine phases from April 7 to May 12. On the other hand, the Congress party, which has ruled India for a decade, claimed only 47 seats compared to the 206 seats it had won in the 2009 election. "This result shows the maturity of the Indian electorate. The people have given a decisive verdict for a change," Archbishop D'Souza said. Explaining that the Church has a "prophetic role" to play, the archbishop added that "the challenge before the Church is to take a stand and remain alert to ensure that the sanctity of the constitution is upheld."