ASIA/INDIA - Cardinal Gracias: "The Church supports good governance"

Mumbai (Agenzia Fides) - "The Catholic Church supports good governance and urges the faithful to vote for those who give proof of good governance": says Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Mumbai, in a note sent to Fides Agency on the eve of the elections of Parliament in Maharashtra state.
The formula of "good governance" is the new slogan of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the nationalist party of the leader Narendra Modi who won the federal election last May. According to observers, the Church in India is showing credit towards the new government, regarded by many as "Hindu fundamentalist" and "hostile to religious minorities". "India needs a government that promises inclusive growth, that takes care of everyone", remarked the Cardinal.
In view of the regional vote, last week the Christians of Mumbai announced the birth of a new party, the "Maharashtra Swaraj Party" (MSP), but other Christians have criticized the "fragmentation of Christians in politics". In recent weeks, Narendra Modi met senior members of the Indian Catholic Church such as the Archbishop of Goa, His Exc. Mgr. Filipe Neri Ferrao, and also Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, President of the Episcopal Conference of India, who praised the intentions of Modi to follow the path of "good governance". Card. Cleemis gave the Premier a Memorandum with the points and the most important issues related to the presence of Christians in India. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 25/09/2014)