By Matters India Reporter
Kochi: Cardinal George Alencherry, who heads a council comprising Churches and Christian organizations in Kerala, has applauded a Hindu temple that gave up its land to help national highway’s expansion.
“Everyone should show the willingness to act with common good in mind,” said the cardinal, the chairperson of the Inter Church Council, while commending the authorities of the Kovval Azhivathukal temple in Kasargod, Kerala’s northernmost district, for showing the way for society.
The cardinal, who is also the president of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council, in a statement on July 26 urged all Christian communities in the southern Indian state to willingly relocate chapels and places of worship if it becomes necessary for projects like expansion of national highways and other roadways projects.
At the same time, the cardinal wants the government to plan developmental projects in such a way so as to not affect the existing historically important places of worship.
The prelate’s statement came in the backdrop of a recent High Court order regarding land acquisition for National Highway 66 expansion in Kollam.
The High Court on July 23 dismissed a batch of petitions alleging discrepancies in the acquisition proceedings for the widening of National Highway on the ground that judicial review is impermissible in the matter.
“For the development of National Highways in the state, if religious institutions are affected, God will forgive us,” Justice P.V Kunhikrishnan said while dismissing the petitions.
The court also said no development activities can be implemented in the country without difficulty to a section of citizens. “Difficulties are part of development. When the development of the country is the object, citizens should neglect their minor difficulties,” the judge added.
The Kasargod temple’s gesture came almost two weeks before the High Court order. The authorities of the more than 1,000-year-old temple removed its presiding deity to a temporarily erected structure through rituals lasting three days from July 13. They have decided to hold regular prayers at the temporary structure until a new temple is constructed.
The temple authorities have shown that they will not stand in the way of the nation’s development, people’s committee president Ratheesh Chakrapuram told reporters. He said the temple is managed by local people, who had decided not to object when the highway officials surveyed the place and marked the areas for expansion.
“Our sages have taught us to be with the world. God is an omnipresent spirit. We build temples to help people pray. We have relocated the temple to not suit the need of an individual or a village. It is for the national highway and the interest of the nation is more important than human consideration,” Chakrapuram asserted.
Cardinal Alencherry said that Christians, who have contributed immensely to the development and progress of the nation, should act with a liberal mindset on contemporary needs of the country.
“The contributions that the Christian community has made and continues to make in various service sectors for the comprehensive development of the nation is a part of history,” he added.
The cardinal also recalled that the Church has always reacted creatively to the demand for development. For instance, he said, the church at Pallithura in Thiruvananthapuram was relocated in 1962 to set up the research center of the Indian Space Research Organisation.