KOCHI: As Kerala heads to the polls on Friday, Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena arrived on a two-day visit to meet the heads of various Christian churches. The Lt Governor had requested an audience with the heads of the Syro Malabar Church, Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and others.
Though the L-G’s office said Saxena’s visits were “unrelated to the elections”, political opponents termed them as Centre’s “intimidation tactics” ahead of the polls.
Fr Antony Vadakekkara, public relations officer (PRO) of the Syro Malabar Church, said the Delhi Lt Governor met with Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil at Mount St Thomas at Kakkanad in Kochi. "The meeting was not a political one. It was a courtesy call during which both of them discussed non-political topics," said Fr Vadakekkara. He pointed out that the church had already affirmed its stand. "Syro Malabar Church does not go as per the wishes of any political party. We have our own choices and decisions. Just because Saxena came and met with us doesn't mean that we will support BJP," he added.
Though Saxena sought a meeting with the Latin Catholic Church, sources said the church refused to grant an audience. Early this week, the Kerala Latin Catholic Association (KLCA) questioned the delay in lifting the freeze on the bank account of the Thiruvananthapuram archdiocese of the Latin Catholic Church. The Latin Archdiocese alleged that the central government freezed its bank account as a punitive step against their participation in the Vizhinjam protest.
Similarly, the Devalokam, Kottayam-based Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church head Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Mathews III did not meet Saxena as he was away in Kunnamkulam in Thrissur. Fr Mohan Joseph, PRO of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, said, "No meeting happened between the Delhi Lt Governor and the Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Mathews III. The Catholicos is presently in Kunnamkulam and won't be back soon."
Thomas J Netto, Archbishop of Latin Archdiocese of Thiruvananthapuram, with whom Saxena had sought an audience on Thursday, also excused himself saying the meeting on election eve will send confusing signals to people, said sources. The Kerala Latin Catholic Association (KLCA) had recently questioned the delay in unfreezing the archdiocese’s bank account. The archdiocese had termed the Centre’s move a punitive step against its participation in the Vizhinjam protest in 2022.
Fr Antony Vadakekkara, public relations officer (PRO), Syro-Malabar Church, said Saxena met Archbishop Thattil at Mount St Thomas in Kakkanad, Kochi, around 10.30 am.
Delhi L-G’s PRO says Kerala visit personal, not linked to elections
“The meeting was not political. It was a courtesy call during which both of them discussed non-political topics,” said Fr Vadakekkara. Asked if the meeting had any political dimension, he said, “The Syro-Malabar Church does not go as per the wishes of any political party. We have our own choices and decisions. Just because Saxena came and met with us doesn’t mean we will support the BJP.
After meeting Thattil, the L-G proceeded to St George Forane Church in Erattupetta and met Alencherry, who was there to attend the church festivities, sources said. Alencherry is allegedly involved in irregularities in the sale of properties belonging to the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese.
Saxena then made a stop at the residence of Tangu Brother in Kanjikuzhy, Kottayam, by 3pm, before proceeding to the Believers Eastern Church in Thiruvalla to attend an award ceremony.
En route, he stopped at the headquarters of the Syriac Knanaya Archdiocese in Chingavanam, and interacted with Chief Metropolitan Severios Kuriakose for approximately 20 minutes.
When contacted, the L-G’s PRO Rakesh Ranjan too said the visit was personal and unrelated to the elections. He said the L-G has been frequently visiting Kerala as he’s a constitutional authority, and was participating in a hospital function following an invitation.
On the L-G’s visits, CWC member Ramesh Chennithala accused the Centre of misusing its power. “This kind of parley will not make any impact. The Christian community will rally strongly behind the Congress and UDF. The Union government will not succeed,” he said.
Prof K V Thomas, Kerala's special representative in Delhi, said the meeting of Delhi Lt Governor Saxena with the Church on the eve of the election is intimidation tactics. "This is a threat to democracy, it's also a threat to the minority community," Prof Thomas said.