Archbishop Anil J.T. Couto, Archbishop of Delhi urged various student bodies in Delhi to maintain restraint and engage themselves in open, thorough and informed debates on all socio-political issues.
The Archbishop said, “The news reports of violent protests by student bodies in Delhi colleges are a bad omen for the country. Our country’s future is at stake. The colleges and universities are the temples of knowledge and wisdom where students learn to engage in research and in-depth analysis of various issues and concepts. The campuses cannot be reduced merely to pathshalas of politics as to divide students for short-term political gain. The student bodies must be free to engage in thorough and informed debates on all socio-economic and political issues and other evils of the society. They must learn to disagree with respect and honour. ”
The Archbishop also stated, “Criticism of the governments and its institutions need not be interpreted as anti-national or threats to national unity and its sovereignty. I urge everyone to practice restraint both in words and deeds and take precautionary measures as not to hurt the sentiments of other communities and groups. I do believe the need of the hour is to organise seminars, workshops and debates on every concept that is essential and contributes to the growth of our country and upholds its unity and sovereignty. ”
The Archbishop also expressed his grief and sorrow at frequent road and other accidents in which many lives are lost. He said, “The loss of human lives in Meghalaya road accident and Tamil Nadu boat tragedy are grim reminders that we as a nation have a long way to go. We need to educate people on road safety and to comply with safety measures recommended by law.”
