Orthodox church bishops call on Modi in Kerala
Metropolitan Mar Athanasios of Chengannur diocese lavishes praises on Modi's development initiatives.
Kochi: Two senior bishops of the Malanakara Orthodox church on Sunday called on BJP leader Narendra Modi, who arrived in Kerala for addressing public meetings here and in the state capital.
Talking to reporters after the meeting here, Metropolitan Mar Athanasios of Chengannur diocese, lavished praises on Modi's development initiatives in Gujarat but clarified that the call was 'personal and not official'.
Metropolitan Geeverghese Mar Ulios of Ahmedabad diocese of the church was also present at the meeting at the government guest house.
When reporters sought to know how he visualised a scenario of Modi becoming Prime Minister, Mar Athanasios remarked, "I will be glad if that happens."
"We mostly discussed the development initiatives in Gujarat," Mar Athanasios, who had earlier headed the Ahmedabad diocese of the church, said. He said the meeting was not the result of any official direction from the church.
Though BJP leaders in Kerala had earlier claimed that representatives of other churches would also call on Modi, none from any other denomination visited him.