Sangliana Shows His True Colors

Posted September 1, 2004
Anto Akkara
New Delhi (ENI)
Ecumenical News International

A etired Presbyterian police chief recently elected to India's parliament as legislator for the Hindu nationalist BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) has declared that he aims to convert the party into a secular group.

"When I joined the BJP, my Christian friends were angry charging me 'why are you joining a communal party?'" Hmar Tlomte Sangliana, elected to the parliament from southern Karnataka state, told a gathering of Christian activists and church leaders in New Delhi after his election.

"Unless one tries to change from inside, nothing will happen. That's why I accepted the invitation to join the BJP," explained Sangliana who was admitted to the party by the party's national president in January before dozens of media persons.

Later in the April elections, Sangliana contested from Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka state where he retired as director general of police. He won the parliamentary seat for the BJP for the first time.

"I am now looking for Christian friends in the parliament so that we can speak with one voice on Christian concerns," Sangliana told the Christian gathering on 24 July.

In an interview, Sangliana told Ecumenical News International: "We need nothing but power to do anything. The media and the voters were projecting the BJP's chances positively and so I accepted their invitation."

Asked whether he felt disappointed after the BJP was thrown out of power in the elections, Sangliana - a lay preacher in the Presbyterian church - replied: "It was God's way of humbling the BJP for its actions and policies."

"My aim was to make the BJP secular so that other Christians will not hesitate to join it," said Sangliana who had been accused by Hindu groups of supporting missionaries while he was police chief in Bangalore.

"I pray for BJP that it becomes more secular for the good of Christians. I will be happy when I can proclaim the name of Jesus proudly in the Indian parliament," said the former police officer on whom three feature movies have been made in the Kannada language.

Sangliana admitted that many BJP members "fear they will be converted if they go near Christians. But, I will try to change their perception of the church".