KOCHI: Major Archbishop Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil gave an Easter message with a clear political tone in Kochi on Sunday. The message, which indirectly criticised the BJP, CPM and the UPA Government at the Centre, termed the ‘Constitution of secular democratic India a dead book’.
It was during his Easter message at the Ernakulam St Mary’s Basilica that Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil read out the message clarifying the political stand of the Church in the coming Lok Sabha polls. The message said that the communal forces as well as those operating the ‘party villages’ should be dealt with carefully.
The message begins with mentioning the significance of Easter and the torture suffered by Jesus. Referring to the atrocities against Christians at Kandhamal in Orissa, the Cardinal said that the VHP activists who were behind the attacks were still having a free run with police protection.
The Cardinal accused the authorities of remaining silent during the atrocities against the Christians in Orissa. Opening up severe criticisms against the authorities, both at the Centre and in the state, he said, “This kind of Neros and Hitlers should not be sent to power.”
Quipping at political leaders who are against religious heads speaking on politics, the Cardinal said ‘I am saying politics’.
He said that the Constitution could not do anything in Orissa. “Kandhamal became the cemetery of the Indian democracy. A number of Christians lost their houses,” he said.
Currently we are in the clutches of the communal forces which support ‘single party villages’ and ‘single religion countries’. Both the ‘party villages’ and the ‘religion villages’ are equally dangerous. He said that some people associated him with the Left politics.
“I am neither Left nor Capitalist,” he said. He said that the people should realise what kind of leaders should be sent to the Lok Sabha. Those who will weaken the Indian constitution should not be sent to handle power. The Archbishop further warned the people to be careful about political ideologies and communal forces.
