Thiruvananthapuram: A secretariat march organized by the Joint Christian Council in the Kerala state capital to press for a Church act drew a massive crowd. The march on November 28 was held under the aegis of the ecumenical All Kerala Church Act Action Council (AKCAAC) that has demanded the enactment of the Kerala Christian Church Properties and Institutions Trust Bill.
While some reports said more than 50,000 attended the march, the organizers claimed four times that number joined the event. The AKCAAC has been demanding the enactment of the Bill proposed in 2009 by a panel of Kerala Law Reforms Commission chaired by late Justice V R Krishna Iyer.
Sister Lucy Kalappura, who was expelled from the Franciscan Clarist Congregation, inaugurated the dharna in front of the Kerala state Secretariat.
The AKCAAC questioned the Kerala government’s hesitation to enact the bill states like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Goa have made such legislations. Addressing the gathering, Sister Kalappura said she has high hopes that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will take necessary action soon.
The members of AKCAAC also met Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan and discussed the issue. Jacobite priest Father Yuhanon Ramban said that the governor, “who was surprised that Kerala is yet to have such a legislation,” promised to intervene in the matter. Source: The Times of India
