Delhi cops deny nod for Palm Sunday procession, Kerala CM flays act

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan condemned the Delhi police's denial of permission for Palm Sunday procession in New Delhi. Permission was denied reportedly due to security reasons.
"The Delhi police's decision to deny permission for Palm Sunday procession at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Delhi is objectionable. This is a violation of the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom and secular values. Actions that undermine the religious beliefs of minorities are not appropriate for a pluralistic society," the chief minister said.
Opposition leader VD Satheesan said the ban on Christian rituals in the national capital as per the central govt's directive comes amid ongoing Sangh Parivar attacks on Christians and churches. The BJP govt is adopting a strategy of maintaining power by creating religious divisions and fostering communalism, he alleged.
"The same BJP and Sangh Parivar that bring cakes to Christian homes in Kerala for Easter are adopting an anti-Christian stance across the country. This is the same Sangh Parivar that attacked clergy and nuns, including in Jabalpur. The stance of the BJP-Sangh Parivar govts, which revokes the worship rights of minority religious groups, is unconstitutional," Satheesan said.
Congress working committee member Ramesh Chennithala said the Delhi police action should be seen as another severe anti-minority move by the BJP. "We strongly protest the decision to deny permission for this procession, which was to proceed from St Mary's Church to the Sacred Heart Cathedral. This police action follows the recent assault on Christian priests by Sangh Parivar organisations in Jabalpur," he said.
Christians in India should recognise that central ministers who visit Christian churches in Kerala and claim to be Christians in Parliament are merely the BJP's hypocritical secular faces. They should understand that those targeting the Wakf board today will target church properties tomorrow. If minorities do not unite in opposition, they will be divided and subdued, said Chennithala.