The All India Christian Council (aicc) has thanked the people of Maharashtra for their courage and also for summarily rejecting the fascist forces in the State in the recently concluded elections.

In a statement issued recently, aicc said, “The people of Maharashtra have rightly rejected the politics of hate, revenge and communalism and the ideology of narrow nationalism, religion and ethnicity that are perpetrated by the Sangh Parivar affiliated parties.  As stated by many leaders across Maharashtra, it is a victory for secularism and for the aspirations of the common man to live a peaceful life and see the issues on hand addressed rather raising emotions and slogans about the divisive matters that the Parivar leaders have launched often.  The electorate is demanding a secure future for themselves in which there is food and jobs for all, genuine freedom of faith, cultural pluralism, and opportunity of growth.”

According to the statement, the Maharashtra elections have therefore become a referendum accepting the leadership of the Congress Party in Delhi, be it from any community or religion and a stamp of approval by the people to the policies that Congress has enumerated in its Common Minimum Programme and of the new government.   The voter’s expectations have reached a new height and hope that the development programme that has been started by the Centre would reach them too. 

The regions of Vidharbha, Konkan, North Maharashtra and Mumbai decidedly voted for the Congress / NCP secular combine to usher in a Maharashtra of their dreams.  “We thank the people of Maharashtra and as this referendum is given by the people, the responsibility of the party is to keep the Freedom of Faith and the Rule of Law once more, free of the shadow of groups that invidiously hijacked the same in the entire tribal belt of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Orissa.  There should be a renewed concern by this secular Front of NCP/Congress and other parties for Dalits and rural poor, minority communities and the marginalised in society,” the statement added.