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.