Centre trying to sort out problems of minorities, says Orthodox Syrian Bishop

The Centre was trying to sort out problems faced by minorities, Bishop Baselios Marthoma Mathews of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church has said. The prelate called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Wednesday and extended him an invitation to visit his church headquarters in Kerala when he visits the state next.

"I explained to him about functioning of the church and welfare work done and invited him to visit the church headquarters in Kerala," Mathews said.

Union minister V Muraleedharan accompanied him to Modi's Parliament office. The visit comes amid BJP's attempts to reach out to Christians in Kerala to build a better vote base. Mathews' church claims to have around 25 lakh followers in southern Kerala.


From gifting cakes during Christmas, last year, to plan to celebrate upcoming Easter by visiting homes of Christians in Kerala, BJP has stepped up efforts to woo the community in Kerala, from where the party has not been able to win a single Lok Sabha seat till now. BJP has chalked out a plan to reach out to 100,000 Christian families during Easter. Kerala politics has revolved around Congress-led UDF and CPIM-led LDF.