Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan asked to leave Orthodox function

Kottayam: Transport and Sports Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan  had to make an unceremonious exit from the Orthodox Church dais at a function held at the St Paul’s Church, Pallam, to confer  the title of ‘Shemasha’ on a  member of the parish on Friday.  

Baselios Marthoma Poulose Dwitheeyan Catholica Bava of the Church asked the  minister to leave the dais since the synod of the Church had decided to boycott the chief minister and five other ministers  for the alleged neglect shown towards the Church.  Mr Radhakrishnan  quit the dais after listening to the Bava, who said that he was unable to  share the stage with the minister  and that there was nothing personal against him.  

“I wonder why the minister came for the function though we had clearly mentioned that we would not share the dais with any of the six ministers. We have nothing against Thiruvanchoor or any other ministers. Thiruvanchoor should understand our feelings. The decision of the synod is important and cannot be  violated by anyone in the Church,”  the Catholica Bava added.

The function was held to honour  Mr Thomas Chandy,  son of  P.C. Chandy who was a constituency president of the Kerala Congress (M). A meeting to celebrate  the jubilee of the ascendancy of the Bava as  bishop was also scheduled to be held there.