PC George, Shone hit out at Church heads, Mani calls it intimidation

Kottayam: BJP leader PC George on Friday came out against Kanjirappally bishop for canvassing votes for UDF candidate. He talked tough against a section of church leadership and said that Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) amendment bill would finally be passed. His outburst followed his son Shone George's criticisms of the Catholic Church mouthpiece. Both Shone and George were BJP candidates in the assembly elections."Kanjirappally bishop rang up convents and asked them to vote for UDF. What right has he got for that? Is the church UDF?" asked George. He asked who would have issues over FCRA. "What is wrong in giving details of the money coming from abroad?" he asked. He said (Union ministers) Amit Shah, Kiren Rijiju and Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured the church that they would face no difficulties with the bill. "Why are they barking despite this?" George retorted. The barking is for UDF, he said. Bishops who talk politics should be considered politicians, he added.George said that concerns the church raised over FCRA bill denote that they did something wrong. "Why can't they be accountable," he asked.Meanwhile, Shone slammed Catholic Church's mouthpiece, saying that the newspaper on polling day indirectly urged not to vote for BJP. "Though it is a Church mouthpiece, the interests of some individuals and political fronts are conveyed through the paper. If this is the Church's stand too, then we will have to change our stand," said Shone. He said FCRA bill wouldn't have been set aside had they not put pressure. "It is for the Church to decide. If we are not needed, we will also have to decide the Church is not needed," he said. He asked what reply could give to Amit Shah if he showed him the mouthpiece's front page. He said he would meet Church leadership and share his concerns.Meanwhile, Kerala Congress (Mani) chairman Jose K Mani dismissed Shone's statement as an attempt to intimidate the Church. "Similar moves happened in Poonjar earlier. If they had such love, why did they bring the (FCRA) bill? Why was it presented in Parliament?" asked Mani.KC(M) general secretary Stephen George stated that remarks by the two BJP candidates against the bishop and Catholic Church's official newspaper are highly concerning. "There is a deliberate attempt to intimidate and restrain. The Christian Church and its leaders frequently engage in social issues. Their comments and interventions on various matters, such as the problems faced by farmers, wildlife attacks, land issues and Munambam issue, were not solely for Christians. These interventions and remarks were made taking into account the pain of the entire community," he said.