Catholic official says elections show Indians want secular democracy

Published: 2004-05-14

NEW DELHI, India (CNS) -- The electoral defeat of India's ruling pro-Hindu party demonstrates the nation's belief in a secular democracy, said a spokesman for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India. The results of the general election signal that India "by and large firmly believes in secular and democratic values," said Father Babu Joseph, spokesman. His remarks were reported by UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. India elected its people's council, the lower house of Parliament, in four phases starting April 20 and ending May 10. The vote tabulation May 13 showed the ruling National Democratic Alliance with only 186 seats, 100 seats fewer than it won in 1999 elections. The alliance was led by the Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party. Many in India see the party as the political wing of extremist groups that want to make India a Hindu theocratic nation.

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