Apart from the NCCI, the consultation had representatives from Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society (CISRS), Student Christian Movement of India (SCMI) and Interfaith Coalition for Peace (ICP).

“We felt that the political situation in the country over the past few years with parties mushrooming all over, communal and caste based agendas and fractured mandates, made it necessary for us to think about the political future of the country,” said Bishop Taranath Sagar, President of NCCI.

Speaking at a news conference today, the delegates, however, denied that this was an attempt to consolidate a ‘Christian vote bank.’ “We are not talking here about communal politics but clean politics. Yes, we have our concerns but our objective is for the nation as a whole, irrespective of any community or caste,” said Bishop D K Sahu, General Secretary, NCCI.

The delegates might claim that they do not believe in vote-bank politics but all of them lashed out at the BJP for practising the politics of hate. “This time, the youth and first time voters form a large part of the electorate. Varun Gandhi, as a young politician, has taken a very negative stand by speaking against a particular community. I don’t think the BJP has any secular ideals. They just want to come to power by attracting the majority vote bank and marginalising the minorities,” said Bishop Sagar.

Bishop D K Sahu said that it is hurtful for the community when they are told that they are ‘foreigners.’ “We are Indians first. We don’t need a lesson in national and personal integrity. We have been a part of nation-building through the services Christian institutions have provided to the society,” he said.

Though they lashed out against the BJP, the speakers refused to subscribe to any political party or individual.

“There is always this myth that we are for Congress but it is not true. We don’t need charity from anybody,” said Sushma Ramaswami, vice-president of NCCI.

The delegates also felt that Christians were inadequately represented in the Parliament and in the state assemblies. “Political parties don’t consider us as important as other minority groups. We don’t get their attention but are like sheep waiting to be slaughtered for their political agenda,” said Bishop Sagar. Attributing the situation to the internal divisions among Christians in India and the absence of consolidated Christian inhabited areas, Bishop Sagar stated that it was difficult for the community to be politically active in the way the Muslim community is.

The statement by the delegation urges the voters to elect candidates who are committed to issues like secularism, social justice, minority security and gender justice. Although the Kandhamal issue does not find a mention in the criteria, it has been referred to in the statement as an example of the divisive politics in the country.