QUESTION: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently had a meeting with the heads of different churches in Kochi, Kerala. How do you feel about it?

ANSWER: The Kerala bishops don’t understand the entire context of India. They are thinking in terms of only one state, as if Kerala is India. I am very surprised by this development. I would like to ask, “Should we be involved in politics at all? Especially the clergy? Should they not go more circumspectly about it, because, in what-ever way, we are not supposed to be too much involved in politics?” So-me bishops are making comments without under-standing, for example, what factors are in play in the price of rubber and so on. They should limit themselves and their intellectual endeavour to educating people to cast their vote for only the best party that will look after the welfare of the poor, the neglected, the sick and the vulnerable. When invited by party leaders, they should only send their representatives. They should not go in person. I don’t think shunning them is an option. As a religious person, I wouldn’t want to get involved in party politics. Bishops are duty bound to defend constitutional values and so they should remain apolitical. Openly expressing preference for one particular political party should be avoided. What is happening in North India is totally different from what might be happening in South India, but they are thinking only in terms of Kerala.

Abp Leo Cornelio (Rtd) Bhopal