By IANS,
Kottayam (Kerala) : L.K. Advani Saturday became the first senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to attend a function of the over one million-strong Mar Thoma Church here.
Advani was the chief guest at the 90th birthday celebrations of Phillipose Mar Chrisostum, the former supreme head of the church.
The invitation to Advani had been opposed by a section of the church but the function went off smoothly, a priest present there said.
“In fact, everyone appeared very happy and pleased that he attended it and gave a good speech. There was no sign of protest from those who managed to get some publicity early this week by saying that a section of the Church was not keen on inviting Advani,” the priest who requested anonymity told IANS.
Advani reportedly referred to the controversy in his speech, saying that he read in some newspapers in Delhi about a row in the Church about him being invited.
“I did not give much significance to it because since I also was in the media. I know about such reports,” he said.