Development activities should not take away the rights of the common man: Bishop Malayil Sabu Koshy Cherian
05 Jan 2023
Kottayam: Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr Malayil Sabu Koshy Cherian warned the authorities that the development activities of the state should not become a hindrance to the life and livelihood of the common people. The Bishop was presiding over the Madhya Kerala Diocesan Council meeting which started at the retreat centre on the 2nd of December. The Bishop said that the Vizhinjam port project, which destroys the livelihood of fisherfolk and alienates them from their land, cannot be accepted and such projects should be opposed. The bishop added that although he does not take sides with violent protests, he declares solidarity with the struggle for the survival of the fisherfolk in Vizhinjam. The government's decision to i back from the K. Rail project which would have pushed the state into more economic crises and environmental disasters is welcome. It is the need of the hour for the rulers to realize that people's movements cannot be suppressed by the law and power. The Bishop said that the narrow visions behind the slogan of one India, one nation, and the moves for the uniform civil code, one India; one language campaign, and the extremist nationalism brought into the curriculum, are challenging the concept of a secular nation.
Diocesan Treasurer Rev. Dr Shajan A Idicula, Clergy Secretary Rev. Nelson Chacko, Lay Secretary Mr Jacob Philip Kallumala, and Registrar Mr Philip M. Varghese also spoke in the inaugural session of the Council meeting.