archive: Clergy's demand for adequate representation creates havoc
Clergy's demand for adequate representation creates havoc
T K Devasia
The Observer
July 27, 1999
Title: Clergy's demand for adequate representation creates havoc
Author: T K Devasia
Publication: The Observer
Date: July 27, 1999
Introduction: Christian from Kerala term it as an unchristian move
The demand for proportional representation for religious communities
made by the Kerala Catholic Federation has created flutters in the
political and social circles in Kerala.
The call made at the Visala Catholic conference held at Kottayam on
July 17, has provoked varying interpretations from different quarters.
While many see the demand for a proportional share of seats in the
legislatures as an attempt by the Church to dangle in political
affairs with the ulterior motive of regaining the waning influence of
the Church leadership in the political set up, others see a conspiracy
behind the move by a set of frustrated politicians to use the Church
to further their interests.
The 10 resolutions passed at the conference are seen as a continuation
of the practice by the Church to intervene in political affairs. The
Church in Kerala has never been free from political meddling. It had
played a major role in the liberation struggle that brought down the
first democratically elected Communist government of E M S
Nampoothiripad in 1957.
The emergence of Kerala Congress as a direct offshoot of the political
maneuvers by the Church has lost much of the political relevance with
the party splintering into various factions. The Church authorities
had tried to bring together the splintered factions, but to no avail.
The present move by the Kerala Catholic Federation is seen as an
attempt to distance from the warring Kerala Congress factions and
rally behind the Congress with a greater political say.
The Church has been historically against the Communist parties, as
they believed that the Communists were against organised religions.
The bishops used to use their influence among the faithful to create a
wedge with the Communists during election times.
The practice of influencing the thinking of the laity through pastoral
letters read in churches throughout the State was done away recently
following widespread criticism. The bishops replaced the practice by
issuing general guidelines to the Christian electorate.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) had come out with a
set of guidelines for the first time prior to the 1996 general
election. The present call for proportional representation to member
of the Christian community is considered as a continuation of that
effort.
While the guidelines issued following the Thiruvananthapuram meeting
of the CBCI sought to help the members of the community to identify
the parties which deserved the support of the Christians, the Kottayam
meet has demanded a direct involvement of the community leaders in the
political process.
The seventh resolution, which calls for due representation to the
Catholic community in the legislatures, is a virtual slap on the face
of the Congress which enjoyed the support of the community.
It has accused the Congress of ignoring the community in candidate
selection even while depending on them for support. The first
resolution while blaming the Communist-led government for ignoring the
community its due share in various sectors has threatened to shun
parties that do not put up a convincing fight against the government.
The move has evoked sharp reaction from various quarters. While the
Christian intelligentsia in the State have termed it as unchristian
and a bad model for society, the legal experts have described the
demand as unconstitutional and anti-secular various Christian
organisations said that open meddling in politics to the extent of
demanding seats in the election would defile the basic concept of
democracy in a country like India and split in castes and sub-castes.
They said that a representative of the legislative body is elected to
serve the people without discrimination on the basis of caste or
creed. The argument that only Christian representatives can serve the
interests of the Christian community is, therefore, erroneous,
according to them. Constitutional experts felt that demand has no
constitutional support. The rights bestowed on religious minorities
by the constitution were confined to right to admissions to
educational institutions and establishment and running of educational
institutions and not for representation in legislative bodies, they
argued.
Political leaders fear that the demand would trigger a backlash from
the majority community defeating the very purpose behind the move
besides opening a pandoras box. It has already evoked similar
responses from other communities.
Various Muslim organisations like the Waqf Board and Jamat-ul-Council
came forward demanding five out of the 20 Lok Sabha seats for the
Muslim community.
While the Congress, to which the demand was focused, is maintaining a
studied silence on the issue, the Communist Party of India (Marxist)
leaders have flayed the demand.
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