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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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