<div>In a message to nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said: “Good Friday was a day for both prayer and to remember the noble, pious and compassionate thoughts of Jesus Christ that touched many lives”.<br /><br />His message comes even as the BJP is pulling out all stops to woo Christian voters in poll-bound Kerala. Christians constitute 19 % of the state’s population. Polling in the Kerala for new state assembly is scheduled to be held on May 16.<br /><br />“Good Friday is a day of prayer & a day to remember the noble, pious & compassionate thoughts of Jesus Christ that touched many lives,” Prime Minister tweeted.<br /><br />Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also tweeted later in the day: “On the solemn occasion of Good Friday, let us recall the message of love, forgiveness and compassion, and perpetuated peace in the society.”<br /><br />In Kerala, the BJP is trying to woo the Christian community ahead of the elections. A series of meetings, held between Union ministers including Jaitley and church leaders over the last two months, aimed at bridging the gap with the Christian community in the state.<br /><br />Senior Kerala BJP leaders have held discussions with leaders of various church denominations, in an effort to understand their concerns and get suggestions on candidates for the upcoming polls.<br /><br />Kerala BJP chief Kummanam Rajasekharan has also met a number of senior bishops soon after assuming the post.<br /><br />Sources said the BJP candidate list could have around dozen candidates belonging to Christian community besides half a dozen Muslim nominees. The BJP is planning to give tickets to Christians in central Kerala and some parts of northern Kerala, where the community has strength.<br /><br />The RSS had started trying to build bridges with the Christian community in Kerala when K Sudarsan was the Sarsanghchalak.<br /><br />RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat also continued his predecessor’s path. Since the BJP-led coalition coming to power in 2014, Modi himself has attended functions organised by the Catholic Church in Delhi. Jaitley had in December last hosted church leaders from Kerala here at his official residence. Though the BJP is making efforts to woo Christians in Kerala with an eye on assembly polls, a section in party is of the view that they should be cautious in dealing with various Christian denominations as some of them are lobbying against the Centre’s crackdown on the NGOs which are providing funds for them.<br /><br /></div>
<div>In a message to nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said: “Good Friday was a day for both prayer and to remember the noble, pious and compassionate thoughts of Jesus Christ that touched many lives”.<br /><br />His message comes even as the BJP is pulling out all stops to woo Christian voters in poll-bound Kerala. Christians constitute 19 % of the state’s population. Polling in the Kerala for new state assembly is scheduled to be held on May 16.<br /><br />“Good Friday is a day of prayer & a day to remember the noble, pious & compassionate thoughts of Jesus Christ that touched many lives,” Prime Minister tweeted.<br /><br />Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also tweeted later in the day: “On the solemn occasion of Good Friday, let us recall the message of love, forgiveness and compassion, and perpetuated peace in the society.”<br /><br />In Kerala, the BJP is trying to woo the Christian community ahead of the elections. A series of meetings, held between Union ministers including Jaitley and church leaders over the last two months, aimed at bridging the gap with the Christian community in the state.<br /><br />Senior Kerala BJP leaders have held discussions with leaders of various church denominations, in an effort to understand their concerns and get suggestions on candidates for the upcoming polls.<br /><br />Kerala BJP chief Kummanam Rajasekharan has also met a number of senior bishops soon after assuming the post.<br /><br />Sources said the BJP candidate list could have around dozen candidates belonging to Christian community besides half a dozen Muslim nominees. The BJP is planning to give tickets to Christians in central Kerala and some parts of northern Kerala, where the community has strength.<br /><br />The RSS had started trying to build bridges with the Christian community in Kerala when K Sudarsan was the Sarsanghchalak.<br /><br />RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat also continued his predecessor’s path. Since the BJP-led coalition coming to power in 2014, Modi himself has attended functions organised by the Catholic Church in Delhi. Jaitley had in December last hosted church leaders from Kerala here at his official residence. Though the BJP is making efforts to woo Christians in Kerala with an eye on assembly polls, a section in party is of the view that they should be cautious in dealing with various Christian denominations as some of them are lobbying against the Centre’s crackdown on the NGOs which are providing funds for them.<br /><br /></div>
