Kerala Bishop lashes out at communist party (CPI–M) activists

The Bishop of the Syro–Malankara Catholic Church in Thiruvalla, lashed out at the Communist Party of India–Marxist (CPI–M), for not condemning its student's wing, in its recent attack against the Church run college, alleging mental harassment of students.

Mar Athanasios College for Applied Sciences and Technology (MACFAST) is a minority educational institution run by the Thiruvalla Archdiocese.

Protesting the suicide of a student, Sumi Surendran, the political activists damaged Church property worth Rs 1.5 million.

According to college principal, Abraham Mulamoottil, a group of youths wielding canes and iron bars gate–crashed into the college campus, March 25 afternoon, smashed the glass–panes and damaged furniture and other articles in the college office.

Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, the Catholicos of the Syro–Malankara Church warned: “The SFI (Students Federation of India) should stop this because they are playing with fire. Today they have attacked the educational institution of the church, who knows tomorrow they will attack Christian homes. Responsible ministers in Kerala are yet to react on the inhuman attack on the institution.”

The Bishop, while speaking at a protest meet organized by the Church said, “A suicide is being celebrated like a festival by the SFI with the support of the CPI–M. Is the sympathy that these people show directed towards the girl’s family or are they using this as a ploy to attack the church? All of you should be careful about such things,” added the Bishop, who was addressing a protest meet organized by the Church.

Archbishop Thomas Koorilos of Thiruvalla diocese described the attack on the college as yet another organized move by the CPI–M led Left Democratic Front government to defame the educational institutions run by the Church.

The relationship between the Catholic Church with the CPI–M has recently been strained, after the party state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan lashed out at a Catholic Bishop for involving in political issues.

Meanwhile, Education Minister M.A. Baby visited the house of the deceased student at Chavara and assured that the government would order an inquiry into her suicide.

Catholics account for 50 percent of Kerala's Christians, who form 22 percent of the state's population. Other denominations include, the Syrian Orthodox and Syrian Jacobites together about 21.4%, the Marthoma Syrians about 5.7%, the Church of South India 5.2% and others about 6.3%.