BJP offers free trip to Jerusalem for Nagaland Christians

Guwahati: The BJP may have cancelled subsidy for Haj pilgrimages, but now it is in the eye of storm by offering Christians free trip to Jerusalem if elected to power in Nagaland. “We plan to send groups of senior Christian citizens to Jerusalem if our party comes to power,” Nagala-nd BJP spokesperson James Vizo said. He, however, clarified, “The pilgrimage for our senior citizens could be free, but that needs to be worked out later.”

The BJP’s offer comes close on the heels of the Congress announcing a subsidy for the trip to Jerusalem. The Congress, battling for revival in the frontier state, in its manifesto stated, “By an Act of the state government, a Board will be established to facilitate minorities to visit the Holy Land at a subsidised cost.”

The BJP, which has entered into an alliance with the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party,  is contesting 20 seats, but facing stiff opposition from Christian organisations.

The Holy Land package is also believed to be an outcome of the warning issued by the Nagaland Baptist Church Council to voters against Hindutva forces.

In an open letter, the council said, “We cannot deny that the Hindutva movement in the country has become strong and invasive in the past few years with the BJP, the political wing of the RSS, in power.”