RSS-affiliated Legal Rights Observatory (LRO) has moved the Election Commission (EC) against Archdiocese of Gandhinagar, Archbishop Thomas Macwan, for releasing a signed communique which urged to "save secularism" and Indian from the "nationalist forces", which were on the "verge of taking over the country".

Though no party has been named, yet the allusions to BJP and RSS are more than obvious. LRO has lodged a formal complaint with the EC, alleging a paid news angle behind the communique released on November 21. In the letter, which was accessed by DNA, the rightwing legal body has called for an inquiry and demanded action against the priest.

"With this complaint, I urge you to immediately take action against Bishop and thwart his attempts to divide Gujarat voters on the bases of caste, creed and religion. As the statement is highly biased against ruling party, paid news angle should be investigated and due action be taken against those guilty," said LRO convenor and former RSS pracharak Vinay Joshi.

While the communique referred to atrocities on the poor, OBC and minorities and claimed that Constitutional rights were being violated in the current regime, the LRO letter accused the priest of trying "his best to generate fear among voters", apart from trying "to divide voters on the basis of caste and creed" and "spreading the rumors to create clashes between various social groups and also making baseless allegations against Nationalists Forces".

Calling the remarks "highly provocative and objectionable" which "directly aimed at demonising certain organisations...obliquely appealing electorate to vote against ruling BJP", LRO wants Macwan prosecuted under the Representation of the People Act-1951.

In the communique, the priest had also asked Christians to pray for divine intervention, and as Gujarat elections "could make a difference", it also urged the people to select and vote for candidates who would uphold the Constitution and safeguard people against discrimination. Earlier, the same LRO had lodged another such complaint with the EC during Goa elections against Goa Catholic Bishop's magazine under RP Act 1951.

"While studying the matter of indulgence of Catholic Church and other Christian bodies in electioneering in India violating RP Act 1951, I have come across several instances and I shall be bringing them in front of the Election Commission," said Joshi.

IN GOD WE TRUST

In the communique, the priest had also asked Christians to pray for divine intervention, and as Gujarat elections “could make a difference”, it also urged the people to select and vote for candidates who would uphold the Constitution and safeguard people against discrimination.