Reverend J.R. Sangma, general secretary of the Garo Baptist Convention, at his office in Meghalaya. He wonders how the BJP would apply its ideology of Hindu nationhood in a Christian-majority state like Meghalaya. (Photo by Nirendra Dev/ucanews.com)
Battle lines have been drawn in Meghalaya in the run-up to the Feb. 27 provincial elections but many people, including Christian leaders, suspect voters are turning toward India's leading pro-Hindu party in the Christian-majority state.
While the ruling Congress party aims to secure power for a third consecutive term despite numerous allegations of corruption, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which runs the federal government, is determined to capture power with a promise to end corruption.
The BJP, which has never been in power in Meghalaya, holds just two seats in the 60-member house against the 24 seats of Congress. But several leaders sense the party is gaining voters' favour as they have no other option when looking for change.
The issues before Meghalaya's three million people, 75 percent of them Christians, are not religious but revolve around governmental corruption blocking development and their basic needs.
A trip through the state shows the neglect. Dilapidated roads and public buildings greet visitors to the rural Garo Hills.
"Broken patches, potholes and numerous bumps fill our roads. We need to come out of this stage," said D. Sangma of the National People's Party.
Villagers also complain about lack of government action to remedy an increasing number of school dropouts and the absence of infrastructure in schools and colleges.
"The Congress party has been responsible for the lack of development," said Billykid A. Sangma, who will be contesting the election in Tura for the BJP.
He and other BJP leaders present their party, which now controls 19 of 29 Indian states and the federal government, as the best option for Meghalaya.
"Fast-tracking development" is the mantra of BJP leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sangma claimed.
Christian leaders see their people backing the BJP in the hope of a better future.
"Many members of Protestant churches have joined the BJP and these also include politicians. A good number are seeking a chance to contest elections," said Reverend W.R. Marak of the Tura Baptist Church.
"We have nothing to tell them except that as Christians they should always remember Christian values. People must always remember that India is a secular country and the values of secularism should be upheld."
Christian dilemma
The BJP-led federal government has created hurdles for Christian missionaries in the state, such as denying visas for foreign Christian leaders to visit the area.
The latest incident came when Baptist World Alliance chief Reverend Paul Msiza was refused a visa to attend an event to mark 150 years of Christianity in the Garo Hills in early February.
"Bit by bit, we are feeling the pinch," said Reverend J.R. Sangma, general secretary of Garo Baptist Convention.
Leaders like him wonder how the BJP would apply its ideology of Hindu nationhood in a state like Meghalaya, where Christians are the majority and Hindus form just 11 percent.
They also say the BJP's passion shown elsewhere in India to protect cows — revered animals for orthodox Hindus — cannot tally with the indigenous Meghalaya people, for whom eating beef is integral to their cultural identity.
Several federal government policies have been a concern for Christians across India, said Reverend Marak. One example was the changes made to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, which has negatively affected funds coming to Christian bodies from overseas.
"This is a serious issue but we are unable to do much," said Reverend Sangma.
He said Christian leaders from all denominations, including Catholics, have expressed concern over BJP polices but were unable to chalk out a roadmap to tackle the challenges.
"We don't have any strategy to counter the BJP but we are confident about one thing: the resilience and strong secular mind of Indians," said Christian educationalist Anthony Gama.
Some people blame Congress for the BJP's advances in the northeast region comprising seven states, including the only three Christian-majority states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya.
"People in the northeast have trusted Congress for decades but the party has let everyone down. It is Congress' non-performance that has helped the BJP grow to become a challenge," Gama said.
Christian support is nothing new to the BJP. With the clear backing of Christians, the BJP is part of ruling coalitions in Nagaland and in Goa, where a third of the population is Christian.
In Nagaland, which also goes to polls this month, the BJP has formed an electoral alliance with a newly floated regional party, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party. But in Meghalaya the BJP has decided to go to the polls alone.
Leaders like Marak believe that not everyone in the BJP will be aggressive toward Christians. The challenge is to deal with fringe elements in the BJP, he said.
