On Christmas day, Prime Minister Modi invited leaders of the Christian community (mainly prelates), some prominent businessmen and well-known figures from the film and sports industry for a reception he hosted. Of course, it is a grand gesture. The Christian leadership attended the function, exchanged pleasantries and returned.

Manipur is a burning issue. Hundreds of Christians were murdered, raped, assaulted, displaced, and their places of worship destroyed. The atrocities continue, and the media is blinded so that the world may not see what is happening. It is a matter which agitated the Christians a lot. Here in Kerala, the Catholic Church leadership was very much concerned. A few MPs and Catholic bishops from Kerala visited Manipur too.

Nevertheless, the government took no steps to control the killings. The prime minister, who was busy visiting many other countries, never bothered to visit the state of Manipur during that period. He never bothered to utter a soothing word to the people of Manipur or heal their wounds. The Catholic leadership in Kerala, who condemned the silence of the Prime Minister and were ostensibly very disappointed, were silent during the Christmas reception. Many Christians strongly feel that the church leadership failed to raise the Manipur issue. They were not sincere to their faithful.

A few days back, a minister in the CPM-led Kerala, Mr Saji Cherian, made a speech at a local party meeting. He said the bishops went there, ate cake, drank the brew from grapes and returned (he was hinting that the Bishops got intoxicated). While his words were harsh, his tone rude, and the delivery mocking, what he said is, in fact, true. Modi browbeat the Christian leadership. The leadership raised great hullabaloo when this statement was published. The Cardinal threatened the state government with non-cooperation unless the minister withdrew his comments. The minister might have wanted to gain some mileage. However, the fact remains that they failed to raise the Manipur issue.

THE BACKGROUND

Kerala was ruled traditionally by the LDF and UDF alternately. The UDF consists mainly of the Indian National Congress, Muslim League and The Kerala Congress, a party usually dominated by Catholics and supported by the Catholic Church. The Kerala Congress consists of six or seven factions led by different leaders. The Christian community used to be pro-Congress or pro-Kerala Congress and anti-communist. Three factions of the Kerala Congress are with the LDF led by CPM, where CPI is the second largest Party. During the recent elections, the Kerala Congress factions garnered only ten seats in an assembly of 140. The population of Christians in Kerala is around 20 per cent.

The Muslim League generally has a strength of around 20 seats in the Assembly elections. The Northern Districts of Malappuram, Calicut, and Kasaragod are its strongholds. Malappuram is a Muslim-majority district. The UDF, in its present form, was formed in the 1970s. Whether it is UDF or LDF Government, generally, the majority of the ruling side in the assembly will be around 20, sometimes less. With its numerical strength in the assembly, the Muslim League greatly influences the government.

The Muslim league is not fanatical or extremist. They are considered moderate. However, when any issue comes up concerning the Muslim community, they all stand together and have their way. The orthodox, conservative, rigid Mullas and other clerics influence the community. Like Gujaratis and Baniyas, Muslims are generally business-minded.

Muslims have about 20 per cent reservations in college admissions and Government jobs. There are many scholarships and financial aid for Muslim students. The Muslim population is increasing every year. So, their political power also increases.

The Syrian Catholic community in Meenachil, Thodupuzha, Kanjirappally, Changanassery, and other Central Travancore areas were agriculture-oriented. Till two generations back, the land was aplenty, and agriculture was profitable, whether it was rubber, pepper, cardamom, paddy, coconut, plantains or anything else. Farmers could prosper, so they overlooked the importance of government jobs. But, during the last 2-3 decades, the prices of agricultural produce have come down, but the cost of labour and other surcharges have gone up. Now, agriculture has become unsustainable. Young people are migrating to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe to seek new avenues.

PRESENT COMMUNAL SCENARIO IN KERALA

Syrian Catholics have no reservation quota in college admissions or government jobs. They are considered socially and economically well-off (this observation was accurate a few decades ago) and must compete in the open merit quota for admissions and employment. So, the Christians feel that the Muslims are pampered and reaping undue benefits by abusing their minority status. All the benefits allotted to minorities go to the Muslims. The Church leadership parrots this narrative as well.

There is also the problem of "LOVE JIHAD". Young men among them pretend to be in love with girls of other communities, tempt them, drug them and seduce them, torture and blackmail them. Girls studying in schools and colleges are lured into marriages with Muslim youth under the guise of love and taken to Syria and other countries for terrorist activities. But of course, such incidents are few.

The church leadership in Kerala has become anti-Muslim because of the cases mentioned above. They are not fighting with arms but are recasting many of the faithful to an anti-Muslim stand. Some extremist sections of the Muslim community pour oil into this fire. In the not-so-distant past, some extreme Muslim groups led a march to Bishop's place at Pala. In the Franco issue, some Muslim groups supported the protesting nuns (I believe the nuns have a just cause; the Church let them down). All this irritates the Christian hierarchy, who exhorted their people to boycott Muslim shops, hotels and meat stalls.

SECOND COMING OF PINARAYI

The Catholic hierarchy played a significant role in the second coming of Pinarayi Vijayan. They said the Muslim League dominates the UDF. They forgot that Oommen Chandy was not an autocrat; he was amenable to criticism and a secular, judicious person. But they raised the Muslim bogey and persuaded large numbers of Catholics to vote for the CPM, the bitter fruits of which decision they now enjoy.

Even if the LDF is in power, the Muslims will have much bargaining power with their numerical strength. The CPM forms its policies to appease the Muslims. They concede to almost every demand of the Muslim community. CPM knows very well how to play the communal cards. They know that they can come to power without the support of the Christian community if the Muslims are with them. Pinarayi is a master of Muslim appeasement. Some of the Catholic Bishops are on excellent terms with Pinarayi Vijayan. They share platforms with CPM, something unthinkable some 50 years back.

WHY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS GOING TO SUPPORT BJP

However, recently, something has gone wrong in the relationship between the Pianarayi-led CPM and the Catholic Hierarchy, even though a huge chunk of the Kerala Congress is with the CPM. Only now has Deepika started criticising CPM and its Chief Minister.

I am a Syrian Catholic who is against the BJP, the CPM and even the Congress. The Church Hierarchy has no plan to go back to the UDF. Their new Saviour and Messiah is Modi. The authorities have already created widespread mistrust and hatred towards Muslims. BJP, which is also anti-Muslim, is trying to gain a foothold in Kerala. The BJP is cleverly exploiting the mistrust towards Muslims as the unifying ground between the Church and itself.

The Bishops and Cardinals might be trying to create a vote bank and bargain with BJP. The bishops are trying to lead their folk to the BJP stables to create a large enough following to acquire bargaining power with the government. They have forgotten Manipur and other incidents in North India and how the BJP ruled Karnataka. They should not be elated at the wooing tones of the BJP, as the anti-Muslim rhetoric is the only point of commonality. The Church is playing with fire for some temporary gains. The Church will not support the UDF due to the alleged hegemony of the Muslim League. By supporting the BJP, they are jumping from the frying pan into the fire.

Kerala had a liberal and progressive outlook. The religious leaders and political parties have coloured it with communalism. The BJP knows it cannot win elections in Kerala in Kerala on its own merits. The Hindus are not united in their support of a political party. The Congress, CPM and BJP all find supporters from the community in their ranks. BJP needs the help of the minority communities. Due to historical reasons, they cannot co-operate with the Muslims. The next target is the Christians.

For the BJP, Muslims are the number one enemy. After finishing off the Muslims, the Sangh Parivar will turn to the Christians. The hierarchy may have their vested interests to protect. But for ordinary Christians, this will be a suicidal decision. Remember Nazi Germany in the second half of the 1930s. India will soon become a Hindu Pakistan.

The teachings of Christ are beautiful. But the Church has become a mammoth establishment for wealth management. Those who preach lofty ideals on the pulpit fail to practice even a bit of what they preach. They control all the assets of the Church. The laity has no role in it. At least leave the politics to us.

K Joy Joseph, A practising Catholic and a civil engineer by profession