BJP not a threat to Christians, says Union Minister George Kurian in Mizoram

Aizawl: Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs and BJP leader George Kurian on Wednesday said that the BJP is not a threat to Christians, as he sought to allay fears about the saffron party in Christian-dominated Mizoram in the run-up to the assembly by-election for the Dampa seat in Mamit district.

Kurian arrived in Aizawl on Wednesday on a two-day visit to campaign for the party’s candidate, Lalhmingthanga, in the upcoming bypoll slated for November 11.

Addressing a rally at Darlung village in north-western Mizoram’s Mamit district, Kurian said the BJP is not inimical to Christianity and that Christians have nothing to fear from the party.
He said he was baffled by the alleged teaching in the Christian-dominated state to fear the saffron party.

"I have been with the BJP since its inception in 1980. I am from Kerala and a true Christian devotee. I have never faced any difficulties for being a BJP member because of my faith. Therefore, teaching people to fear the BJP is only a political game," Kurian said.

"There is no contradiction for a Christian to associate with the BJP," he added.

Kurian, who also holds the Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying portfolios, said Dampa must connect with Delhi to usher in development in the area.

He said the BJP government at the Centre would bring several development projects, including road connectivity and agricultural link roads, if the BJP candidate is elected in the upcoming bypoll.
Kurian also blamed the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) government headed by Chief Minister Lalduhoma for allegedly neglecting the Dampa constituency.

"While I was heading to Darlung, I travelled on a very narrow and bad road. I witnessed how the state government has neglected your area. This is very unfortunate," he said.

Citing that the NDA government’s top priority is development, Kurian said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also given due importance to Mizoram’s growth. He added that a ?8,000-crore railway line project was inaugurated by the Prime Minister in September to improve connectivity between Mizoram and the rest of the country.

The Union Minister also visited other villages within the Dampa constituency and will leave for Delhi on Thursday, BJP sources said.

Five candidates are in the fray for the Dampa bypoll, which was necessitated by the death of incumbent Mizo National Front (MNF) legislator Lalrintluanga Sailo on July 21.

The ruling ZPM has fielded Mizo singer and preacher Vanlalsailova, while the main opposition MNF has nominated the party’s senior vice-president and former health minister Dr. R. Lalthangliana. The Congress has fielded its vice-president and former transport minister John Rotluangliana.

The BJP has nominated Lalhmingthanga, while former chief minister Brig. T. Sailo’s party, the People’s Conference, has fielded its vice-president K. Zahmingthanga.

A total of 21,003 voters, including 115 service voters, are eligible to exercise their franchise in the upcoming bypoll. Counting of votes will take place on November 14.