Overview
- The BJP candidates P. C. George and his son Shone George, speaking Friday after Thursday’s Kerala vote, alleged some bishops urged support for the UDF and said a Kanjirapally bishop told nuns to back the bloc.
- The pair also attacked Deepika, a church-run daily, accusing it of taking an anti-BJP line and warning that clergy who enter politics would be treated as politicians.
- Deepika answered Saturday with an editorial that defended its coverage, criticized “political opportunists,” and said its stand on the foreign-funding debate would not change after a bill introduced March 25 was reported put on hold.
- Kerala BJP leaders defended Shone George on Saturday, saying he only questioned the alleged political use of a media house and insisting the party seeks equal treatment for all faiths.
- Congress leaders V. D. Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala condemned the remarks as intimidation and vowed to resist any targeting of the Church, as the FCRA fight over overseas donations intensifies competition for Christian votes in Pala and Poonjar.