Ten thousand strong Christians from four districts in Kerala state held public rally against CPI(M) led LDF government here yesterday accusing them of trying to take out 'minority rights' from Christians.
Christians from Kottayam, Udukki, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha Districts participated in the mininority protection rally and meeting meeting held at the historic Thirunakkara Maidan in Kottayam on Sunday, the 12th of August. They pledged to keep the rights of the minorities.
Marthoma Metropolitan Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom inaugurated the minority rights protection meeting, emphasised the need for protecting the minority rights to save democracy. The Metropolitan appealed to the government to act ''consciously'' and with ''democratic feeling'' particularly at a time when the nation was celebrating its 60th anniversary of Independence to resolve the problem, Salem Voice Ministries News reported.
Minority rights were not something acquired through struggle but a part of the democratic system. Protection for minorities had been constitutional right. It was the duty of the Christians to protect their rights to set up educational institutions. Being an Indian it was their fundamental right and as a Christian their minority rights, he said in his inagural address.
Delivering the keynote address, Inter Church Council Chairman Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil charged that the state government and the ruling parties were trying to ''impose'' their agenda in the self–financing education sector in the name of consensus. Sincere efforts were not made to resolve the issue.
Running educational institutions was the fundamental right of the minority communities. In a democracy both individual’s and society’s rights should be protected. State Government's move to ''annexe'' minority rights and ''interfere'' in the running of aided schools would not be tolerated, he asserted.
Thomas Mar Athanasius, Chengannur Metropolitan of the Indian Orthodox Church presided over the function. Rights of Minorities not a free gift of government or political parties, but it is constitutional, he said. And it is an important duty of the governments to be vigilant against christian persecution. The life and properties of christians and other minorites are to be protected, he continued.
Kottayam Archbishop Mar Mathew Moolakkattu, Changanacherry Arch Bishop Mar Joseph Perumthottam, Thiruvalla Archbishop Thomas Mar Coorilos, Vijayapuram Bishop Sebastine Thekkathecheril, Palai Bishop Jospeh Kallarangattu, Knanaya Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan Kuriakose Mar Sevarios, Church of South India Bishop Thomas Samuel, Bishop Peter Thuruthikonam and other leaders addressed the meeting.
It should be noted that Christians of the whole state are very disappointed at the government new stance on Christian’s minority rights. Earlier, on July 29, 11 Bishops belonging to Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant Churches have issued a joint pastoral letter criticising the policies of the LDF Government urging the state government to take corrective measures. On the same day the powerful Syro–Malabar Church organized a rally in Thiruvananthapuram to “protect the rights of minorities”.
Related:
Related Link:
Salem Voice Ministries : Salemvoice.org
With inputs from Paul Ciniraj of Salem Voice Ministries.
