Archbishop Joseph Pamplany of Tellicherry on March 18 assured the BJP at least one seat from the southern Indian state if the federal government raises the price of rubber to 300 rupees.

Predictably, there were gasps and shocked responses from well meaning Christians across the land.

Joseph Pamplany, some seem to indicate, is a modern day Judas who offered to sell the soul of his people for 300 Indian rupees.

I, for one, say that the Archbishop is selling short. I would have absolutely no qualms of supporting and campaigning for the BJP, if the present government achieves this small list of easy tasks.

I promise to campaign for the ruling party if they arrest those hooligans, vandals, and criminal-minded people who threaten, beat up, and lynch fellow citizens who happen to be Muslims and ensure fair trials and justice regardless of caste, creed, or religious or political affiliation.

I will campaign for the ruling party if they arrest and bring to justice those who wilfully and brazenly call for violence against Christians, Muslims, Dalits, and fellow Indians and all those who flout the provisions of the IPC and the Constitution, regardless of whether these hate-spreaders, and inciters of communal riots wear saffron, or skull-caps, or crosses.

I will campaign for the ruling party when the Prime Minister breaks his silence and speaks out against those within the party and Sangh Parivar who are sowing social discord and disharmony with their irresponsible uttrances.

I will campaign for the ruling party when I see that the present government gets cracking and brings to justice those economic offenders, cheats, tax evaders, that are within the party fold, be they ministers, party workers, or big business men.

I will campaign for the ruling party when it restores the independence of the election commission, and repeals the amendments that have muzzled the RTI.

Finally, I will vote for the ruling party when they have the courage and honesty to admit that even the Prime Minister is human, and he can make bad decisions and mistakes.

FRANK KRISHNER IS AN INDEPENDENT COMMUNICATOR, MEDIA TRAINER, AND JOURNALIST. THE VIEWS MENTIONED ARE ENTIRELY THOSE OF THE AUTHOR.

  Archbishop of Tellicherry, BJP, Christian, Frank Krishner, opinion