BJP moves to woo minorities with manifesto

India’s pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has invited suggestions from minorities on how to adapt its election manifesto to making the nation more inclusive. Representatives of religious minorities, including Catholics, presented their suggestions at a March 7 meeting in the capital, New Delhi. The gathering was convened by federal Minority Affairs Mini-ster Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Social Justice and Empower-ment Minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot ahead of national elections in May. “We told the ministers that the minorities feel insecure in the country and need to be protected and that constitutional values need to be upheld,” said Father Joseph Manipadam, who led the Catholic representation at the meeting.