The denial of the permission for the cross parade in Palm Sunday to the cathedral of the sacred heart in Nový Delhi triggered a controversy in Kerala because it attracted the sharp reactions of political leaders across the spectrum.
Chief Minister Pinaraya Vijayan strongly criticized the decision of the police in Delhi to refuse permission and called this step by violating constitutional rights.
“The event is a violation of religious freedom guaranteed by our constitution and goes against the worldly values our nation stands,” he said.
He added that such acts that damage religious feelings of minority communities do not contribute to pluralistic society. He also stressed that the decision undermined the rights of the Christian community of the minority.
Minister denies the accusation
George Kurian, against the attitude, the Minister of the Union for State Affairs and Fishing, Animal Breeding and Dairy, attributed the rejection of permission for both Palm and Shobha Yatra planned in connection with Hanuman Jayanti to increase security measures in the capital.
“Security arrangements have been intensified in Delhi since 11 April for various reasons. The mentioned permits for the procession were made on the basis of security fears, not political motifs,” Kurian said.
He also claimed attempts that were made by different quarters to promote misinformation of hiding reality to be a political discussion.
The State Secretary of the Communist Party of the India (CPI) Binoy Viswam claimed that the controversy was part of the wider agenda of Bharatiya Janata (BJP) to undermine religious freedom.
“Under the influence of BJP, the real face of the party is now visible; first in Jabalpur and now in Delhi. The denial permission for a religious procession is part of a larger pattern focus on religious minorities,” he said.
He also claimed that BJP considers Christian communities only to be a tool to face Muslim religious feelings.
Kerala Congress Congress (M) chairman and deputy Jose K. Mani, who expressed deep concerns about the refusal of permission to the procession, described this step as deeply undesirable and worrying in the country that supports secular values.
The traditional way of cross, which takes place every palm Sunday, usually comes from the Church of the Virgin Mary in Old Delhi to the cathedral of the sacred heart. This long -term annual adherence attracts the participation of many Malaysian families, which is located in the capital.
“Such a denial is an obvious violation of religious freedom,” Jose K. Mani said, warning that it could be a disturbing indication that a wave of anti -Christian attacks spreading around North India is now also in Delhi.
Published – April 13 2025 20:11 is
