Communist Party of India-Marxist state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan criticized the nuns who have been protesting in front of the Kerala High Court seeking the arrest of Bishop Franco Mulakkal and justice for rape-survivor for the last 13 days.
The protest staged by four nuns in Kochi demanding the arrest of the bishop have gained widespread support from different walks of life.
Speaking at a DYFI district committee office inauguration on Thursday, Kodiyeri alleged the strike was ill-motivated. The CPM state chief alleged there are vested interests behind the strike.
‘Political parties are trying to hijack the strike of the nuns and to create a series of state-wide strikes against the government and CPM.’ Kodiyeri’s remark came in a column published in CPIM based Deshabhimani newspaper.
What’s happening now is just hue and cry, he said.
‘Some people try to demean the entire church and depict all priests as criminals in the context of nun’s complaint, with negative intentions.’ He said.
‘The police action should not be disrupted by the strike. Blaming the government for the delay is not right. The government always stands with the victim.’ Kodiyeri said.
Meanwhile, Bishop Franco Mulakkal, accused of rape by a Kerala nun, was arrested in Kochi on Friday following days of questioning by the state police, sources said. The news was welcomed with jubilation at the dharna site in Kochi where nuns of the Missionaries of Jesus and officials of various churches have been protesting past ten days.
