New Delhi (AsiaNews) - John Dayal, chairman of the All India Catholic Union, went to the police in Gujarat and Delhi to report a statement made by former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, comparing the rise to power of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to Christ's death and resurrection. According to Dayal, Advani is guilty of blasphemy for offending Christians' religious sentiments.
His report stated: "In the course of the last one week, Advani has been repeating the following blasphemous phrase at public meetings which have been covered extensively by the electronic media. I have personally seen this coverage on at least three occasions and so have the remaining residents of Delhi who watch the English version of the NDTV news as also the other TV Channels. These transmissions are recorded and can be called for by investigating officers. The television companies will also have to be instructed to preserve this evidence for the court.
"The offensive statement runs as follows: 'We have been crucified, and that too, on a Friday but we were resurrected and that too on a Sunday'. Advani made these statements this week, regarded by Christians all over the world as Holy Week. It is during this week that the passion of Christ is recalled. On Good Friday, the death of Christ by crucifixion is commemorated with a high level of devotion. Sunday is the Easter of resurrection, considered to be the most sacred day of the year in the Christian calendar. The two words 'crucifixion' and
'resurrection' are religious concepts used only in the Christian context, and the blasphemy committed by Advani is provocative and is against social harmony, especially because it was made in Holy Week by an important representative of the BJP known for anti-Christian attacks."
Dayal added: "Recently, violent reactions from the Muslim community were provoked in India under somewhat similar circumstances. The Christian community has restrained itself so far, but this is no ground for the law enforcement authorities not to take action."
