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Journalism of Courage
IN A SIGN of the differences within Kerala’s Catholic Church over overtures towards the BJP, a prominent Catholic weekly and mouthpiece of the Ernakulam Archdiocese has criticised Thalassery Archbishop Joseph Pamplany for saying that the Church was ready to back the party provided its government at the Centre ensures Rs 300 per kg rate for rubber.
In an editorial in its latest edition, Sathyadeepam, the mouthpiece of the Archdiocese, said Pamplany’s statement underplayed the farmers’ crisis. “The statement miserably fails to represent the farmers in the state. The statement has created a situation to construe that a farmer means only a rubber cultivator and that all issues of farmers would be solved once the price of the produce reaches Rs 300. The Archbishop’s statement refutes the fact that farmers’ issues have a regional character. The challenges faced by North Kerala farmers are different from those of farmers in the high ranges of Idukki. Farmers of Kuttanad (the rice bowl of Kerala) have another set of issues.’’
The weekly Sathyadeepam is known for adopting a progressive, secular stand on most Church matters.
While the BJP has been trying to woo the Christian community as part of its political fray into the state, one of the main stumbling blocks is the crisis facing the state’s rubber cultivators, largely based in Central Kerala, where the Church has a big influence. A liberalised import policy is seen to have contributed to the woes of farmers, by pushing down rubber prices, and they have been pleading with the Centre to intervene.
The Sathyadeepam editorial said that it was “puerile” to assume that just helping a BJP MP get elected would solve the issues of farmers. “The stand to mortgage the self-respect of farmers for Rs 300 is highly irresponsible,” says the weekly. Raising the issue of attacks on Christians in North India, it adds that the fact that the Archbishop has refused to withdraw his support for a Central government “which is anti-democratic” was a matter of concern “for all those who believe in the Constitution”.
The Ernakulam Archdiocese which brings out the Sathyadeepam is the most powerful archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Kerala and is the seat of the Church head.
Pamplany’s remarks had also seen a counter-reaction online, and was seen as a reflection of the official view of the Syro-Malabar Catholics. One Facebook user said, “Pamplany need not decide which all parties should have MPs from Kerala. Voters will decide it. He is only the Archbishop of Thalassery, not a party leader.’’
The CPI(M) and Congress, the two main parties in Kerala which are watching the BJP’s plans for the state warily, have also criticised Pamplany, reminding him of Stan Swami, the Jesuit priest accused in the Bhima Koregaon case who died ailing while in custody, and the attacks on churches in North India.
Addressing a meeting in Kannur on Wednesday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan played down the BJP’s rise. “The Sangh Parivar may get a few opportunists to placate it, but don’t think this is the dominating view. The Sangh Parivar is trying to appease a few prominent figures in the minority community. There are threats as well as temptations (being offered). They approach some key figures, we know who they are. (But) Kerala is a place where the BJP agenda cannot be easily implemented,” the CPI(M) leader said.
