Shillong, April 10: In a rare gesture by a prime minister, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday attended a special church service at Sacred Heart Cathedral in New Delhi to celebrate Easter offering prayers, lighting a candle and even planting a tree sapling to commemorate the most religious festival of Christians.

The visit by Modi, a first by a prime minister in recent times to Easter celebrations has taken many christians by surprise given that the perception among minorities about the BJP and its fringe elements is of distrust and antagonism in view of frequent attacks on minorities and their places of worship.

While many Christians appreciated and acknowledged the prime minister for reaching out to the christians by participating in the celebrations, others were not.

Critics termed it a mere photo op and claim it is with an eye on the upcoming Karnataka elections where minorities, including Christians, have a considerable presence in some constituents.

Then there is also the attempt to penetrate the christian bastion in Kerela where the BJP came away from the last elections badly mauled by the communists and unable to make any leeway with the minority community.

But, for others, the Easter Sunday visit is also sending a strong message of the BJP appreciating the significance of the Christian community and its positive role in nation building.

Moreover, the BJP understands the significance of the christian dominance in states of the northeast like Meghalaya and Nagaland where the saffron party is able to share power in the past and current political scenario.

Whatever the case may be, political or otherwise, for Christians across the country, Easter is a celebration of joy and happiness in the resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ and the belief in peace and forgiveness alongside togetherness.

To share a seat in church with the prime minister of the country reveals how significant Easter indeed is.