Kochi: The Save Our Sisters (SOS) forum will launch an indefinite strike from April 6 against the Kerala police delay in filing the chargesheet against rape-accused Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal.
“The drafting of the chargesheet was completed several months ago but the cops are prolonging its submission before the court giving rise to anxious moments,” Felix J. Pulludan, convenor, said after a meeting of the action council of the forum here on Monday.
A convention will be held at Vanchi square near High Court junction at 3.30 p.m. on April 6 when the strike declaration will be made. The forum condemned the ‘revenge’ proceedings initiated by the Catholic Church against Sr Lissy Vadakel and Sr Lucy Kalapurackal for speaking against the bishop. “If the Church takes any action against them, we’ll hold an indefinite strike before the Franciscan Clarist Congregation Generalate at Asokapuram, Aluva,” he said. Prominent persons from various walks of life besides sisters will take part in the protest, the forum said in a statement.
Earlier, the SOS forum sought Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s intervention to stall the transfer order of five nuns, who had held an agitation against the bishop, till the trial in the case was over. The Catholic Church has transferred five nuns from its Missionaries of Jesus convent at Kuravilangad. When the sisters objected, they were later asked to comply with the order and move out of the congregation’s premises.
