from daijiworld's special correspondent (MB)

Panaji, May 18: Playing a secular tune ahead of June 2 Assembly polls, the BJP in Goa appealed to state-level religious institutions to keep away from politics.

"Politics should be different from religion. BJP appeals to all religious institutions in the state to stay away from politics during polls. Let the voters decide," Goa BJP president Shripad Naik said.
 
Naik said Hindu and Christian religious leaders should not interfere in politics. "Both (religion and politics) are different and let's not mix them."
 
"We are going to appeal even from public platforms asking religious heads to keep a distance from politics," he said without naming any group. Goa has a vast Christian population.

He replied in affirmative when asked whether he was referring to the Church. "Not just church, we want that even Hindu institutions should keep away from politics," Naik, who took over as Goa chief of the saffron outfit this year, said.

Asked whether BJP would campaign on the Hindutva plank, Naik said the Ram Temple issue was connected to any particular religion. "It's a national issue. It's a fight to protect culture. It's our rashtra dharma."

To another query, he said the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and RSS don't have any active role in BJP's strategies.
"They don't have any direct say (in BJP affairs) but since they match our ideology of national pride and development, we ask them to support us in form of votes."

"We have respect for these institutions as they are into social work and nation-building but they don't have direct involvement in the party matters," Naik, also an MP, said.