On Thursday, the BJP in Kerala resumed its ‘Sneha Yatra’, an outreach programme to connect with the Christian community in the state, PTI has reported.
The BJP had initially launched the initiative during this year’s Easter. As per the report, in a recent state committee meeting, the party decided to resume the yatra during the Christmas season.
BJP state chief K Surendran visited Cardinal George Alencherry, the former head of the prominent Syro Malabar Church, at St Thomas Mount in nearby Kakkanad and conveyed Christmas greetings from PM Narendra Modi. He also visited Archbishop Joseph Kalathiparbil of the Latin Archdiocese of Verapoly, and conveyed the wishes of the PM.
“Visited Former Major Archbishop Emeritus of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, George Alencherry, conveying Christmas & New Year greetings on behalf of PM Narendra Modi Ji. Today marks the beginning of #NDASnehaYatra, where NDA leaders will visit homes across the state, spreading PM’s wishes to every citizen,” Surendran said in a post on X.
“Visited the Latin Catholic Varapuzha Archdiocese and met Archbishop Dr. Joseph Kalathiparampil to extend Christmas and New Year greetings as part of NDA SnehaYatra. Overwhelmed by the warm welcome at the archdiocesan headquarters. Continuing #NDASnehaYatra, we are spreading PM Narendra Modi Ji’s warm wishes to everyone across the state,” the state BJP president said in another post.
Surendran also shared pictures of his meeting with church leaders.
“It was a friendly meeting… The BJP (state) chief conveyed Prime Minister Modi’s greetings to him. They later had breakfast together,” K S Shaiju, the party’s district president, told PTI.
“The objective of the visit was to convey the PM’s greetings,” he added. He also rejected media reports that there were differences between the Church and the BJP after the Manipur violence issue. “It was just a creation of the media. Both the BJP and the church have always maintained a cordial relationship,” he said.
Earlier on the occasion of Easter this year, prominent BJP leaders and workers had conducted the Sneha Yatra, visiting Christian homes and religious heads.
