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Delhi archbishop tells Christians how to vote

Josy Joseph in New Delhi

The new government that comes to power after the general election should declare year 2000 as the Year of Christ, the archbishop of Delhi demanded on Thursday while releasing a 10-point poll guideline to Christians.

Archbishop Alan de Lastic said irrespective of which political formation comes to power, the Church would "prevail upon the new government to declare the next year as the Year of Christ." He said it would be a fitting tribute to the Indian Church and would help highlight the contribution of Christianity to the nation.

The head of the Roman Catholics' archdiocese of Delhi released a 10-point "litmus test to decide who is worthy of vote." He said these are guidelines that hopefully would help voters to "elect the right candidate and the right party."

"I cannot improve the manifestos of political parties. I have highlighted only a few important issues for the attention of all, especially the Christians," the archbishop said.

The guideline includes a call to the voters to support parties and candidates who would "treat the Christian dalits in the same way as they treat dalits of other religions, so that there is no discrimination based on religious grounds." A call to parties and candidates to have "preferential bias towards the poor, especially the tribals, the economically underprivileged, the women, children, aged and disabled" is also included.

It also asks voters to support political parties that have a "time-bound programme for universal elementary education by 2000 AD", have "effective programmes for fostering peace and communal harmony" at all levels, "ensure the value of secularism is upheld according to the Constitution of India", and recognises and preserves India's religio-cultural pluralism as a "way of enriching the country."

The archbishop said the party to be elected should have the political will to "take immediate steps to fight corruption". Above all, "they should uphold the unity and integrity of the country". The guidelines were meant as a help, but "every citizen is free to vote according to his or her conscience."

"Although the Christian community underwent a great deal of trial in the last one year and have not received adequate help from the Centre and states, the community will participate in the coming elections with complete dedication," he said.

"The Christian community is deeply committed to nation-building. It is because of this that we want these elections to create environment conducive to development and harmony. A secular polity, equity and removal of disparities are important to ensure this. Certain developments in the recent past have put a strain on the country's secular image," the archbishop added.

He said that Pope John Paul II would be in India from November 5 to 8. According to his tentative programme, the pontiff would reach Delhi on November 5. He would meet President K R Narayanan the next day. On November 7, he would lead a public celebration of the Eucharist. He would leave India on November 8.

While in Delhi, the Pope would address the closing session of a synod for Asia, the archbishop added.

He said the Pope would not visit any other Indian city. The pontiff's programme would be finalised only after Father Tucchi, the Vatican official in charge of papal visits, meets Indian officials in the Capital next month.

On the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's public stand against the Pope's visit, the archbishop said, "I don't want to comment on what they want to say. It is a free country."

The VHP leadership had protested to the prime minister about the papal visit.

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