KOCHI: The Kerala Catholic Bishop Council (KCBC), a powerful body of the catholic clergy, has called upon the people to reject political forces engaged in polarising people on communal line in the assembly elections scheduled to be held on May 16 in the state. In a four-page statement issued on Tuesday, KCBC has also asked the people to remain vigilant about the danger of the ‘misuse of religion’ leading to ‘fundamentalism and terrorism’.
Terming pluralism as the core of the Indian culture, the statement of the Kerala Catholic Bishop Council (KCBC) stressed the importance of the role of Kerala in protecting the principle of unity in diversity. Cautioning against the attempt to impose any particular culture or religious practices on everybody the statement has asked the people to reject ‘political parties and candidates with dictatorial tendencies’.
The statement signed by KCBC president Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, vice-president Archbishop Joseph Perumthottam and Secretary Bishop Joseph Kariyil also dealt with issues such as corruption, environment, problems in agriculture sector, development, protection of minorities, respect to the rule of law and judiciary and other issues.
The statement called for removal of ambiguities prevailing in connection with the liquor policy of both United Democratic Front and Left Democratic Front. “The UDF is having clear liquor policy. But the well meaning of the policy needed to be proven in a time bound manner,” the statement said. The anti-liquor campaign promised by LDF is appreciable, but it is having the weakness of not having clear policy, it said.
On the dangers facing the environment, the KCBC statement lamented about the failure in taking action against the functioning of the 3,000 granite quarries operating in the state.
The KCBC, however, also called for the protection of the interest of farmers while taking measures to protect the environment. Taking a strong stand against corruption, the KCBC stated that the people should be aware of the loss of public wealth due to corruption.
