Thrissur: Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) senior vice-president Andrews Thazhath has expressed anxiety over the UP government's move to make compulsory the attendance at the state's primary schools next Sunday as a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday celebrations. The archbishop of Thrissur told reporters here on Saturday that such a move was against protecting the minority rights.
All 1.6 lakh government primary schools in UP would celebrate Mr Modi's birthday on Sep 17, and it would be mandatory for all students to attend, the archbishop said quoting media reports. “Sunday is not a simple holiday for Christians all over the country. It is a holy day, and it was obligatory for all the faithful to attend churches and participate in the mass,” he said. "It's against the spirit and deed of the Constitution."
On induction of Alphons Kannanthanam as a Union minister, he declined to comment but expressed hope that he would do his best for the welfare of the people of the Kerala. He said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan would present this year’s Mar Kundukulam National Award on September 23 to Padmashri Sister Sudha Varghese for her humanitarian works among tribals of northern India.
