Stop harassing Christians, Tamil bishops tell government

The central government should stop harassing Christians and withdraw the negative remarks on the Tuticorin Diocese for allegedly financing the anti-Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) protesters, said the Tamil Nadu Bishops Council (TNBC) here Thursday.

In a statement issued here, A.M. Chinnappa, archbishop of Madras-Mylapore and president of TNBC, said: “It is open secret that the central government is taking these actions against the Diocese of Tuticorin and other Christian NGOs, in the wake of the debate and dispute on the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project.”

The central government has started its crackdown on NGOs for allegedly financing the anti-KNPP protesters.

The Nuclear Power Corp of India Ltd. is building two 1,000 MW reactors at Kudankulam in Tirunelveli district, around 650 km from here. People are opposing the plant fearing for their lives in the event of a disaster.

As part of the crackdown the central government has blocked the FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) number given to Tuticorin Diocesan Association and froze its bank account.

The government is also inquiring into the affairs of Tuticorin Multi-Purpose Social Service Society.

According to TNBC, since the nuclear project had made the people insecure with regard to their life and livelihood, the Church was only extending its solidarity to them in their hour of anxiety.

“This is our only moral involvement with the people. If the government is able to convince them and allay their fears the Church in no way will stand against any decision,” Chinnappa said.

He said that the government was trying to mislead the nation by saying that the Church was against the national and public interest and playing into the hands of foreign powers.