Thiruvanathapuram: Priests and nuns under Neyyattinkara Latin Catholic diocese would observe a fast in front of the state Secretariat on Tuesday, demanding permission to carry out pilgrimage to Bonacaud Kurisumala. Immediate intervention of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan was also sought by them.
In a pastoral letter read out at the churches under Neyyattinkara diocese, bishop Vincent Samuel shared with the laity the church’s angst against police action against believers on their way to Kurisumala here on Friday.
“The government has been keeping silent. We gave several representations seeking a favourable decision to allow us to continue with the Kurisumala pilgrimage, which has been continuing for the past 60 years. We feel the government is safeguarding the interest of communal elements,” the letter said.
According to the bishop, the diocese has been patiently waiting for justice. “It was following denial of justice that we were forced to organize protests from January 1. Police unleashed violence against the pilgrims who were on their way to Kurisumala. The members of Kerala Latin Catholic women’s association were attacked by the police. Women were arrested though there were no enough number of women police officers,” the bishop said.
The bishop also pointed out that the police and forest department officials took no step to ensure justice when the cross on the hill at Bonacaud was damaged twice. The incidents have resulted in the major issue, against which the diocese has been on warpath.
Fr Samuel and vicar general Fr G Christudas will take part in the hunger strike along with over 60 priests and nuns under the diocese.
In a statement issued here on Saturday, diocese president D Raju had said that there was conspiracy behind the police atrocity they faced on Friday. On Wednesday, the representatives of the diocese had met forest minister, chief conservator of forest and Nedumangad deputy superintendent to inform them about the procession they were taking out to Kurisumala on Friday, The Times of India reported.
“The minister and officials had said that there was no problem in taking out the procession. We suspect conspiracy behind the surprise change in the attitude of the government and law enforcers. Stripping the who were youths inside the lock up was highly condemnable and it showed the government’s attitude towards minorities,” Raju said.
BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan on Saturday had issued a statement urging the diocese to stop being adamant about installing a holy cross on the forest land, a sensitive ecosystem.
“The diocese erred in dragging a matter that was pending before the high court to the street. The police erred by using force against women and children. The government should have taken initiative to reach a consensus with the diocese earlier and could have avoided the unfortunate development,” he said.