Cry to protect humans, not just cows - Cardinal set to visit nun and call on CM

Cardinal Baselios Cleemis

Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, TT, New Delhi, March 17: Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, the president of one of the most influential Christian organisations in the country, has said it is the responsibility of the government to protect not cows alone but human beings also.

The cardinal was speaking on the eve of visiting Bengal to call on the elderly nun who was assaulted in Ranaghat and also to meet chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

"We need to protect not only cows but also human beings," said Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, the president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI).

Cow protection has resurfaced in the national discourse in recent weeks after outfits associated with the Sangh parivar pursued the matter with renewed vigour and a Maharashtra act banning most varieties of beef was cleared by the President.

A CBCI delegation led by the cardinal is scheduled to reach Ranaghat on Wednesday. After visiting the nun at a hospital and meeting officials of the Convent of Jesus and Mary High School, the delegation will meet the chief minister on its way back.

"We have got an appointment to meet Mamata Banerjee tomorrow at her office at 4pm. It was a brutal assault and we demand speedy justice and punishment to those guilty. During the meeting, we will convey our concerns to the chief minister," he told a group of journalists in New Delhi today.

"The CBCI assures all support to the Sisters and we will also provide judicial assistance, if needed. We want the state government to bring justice to her as soon as possible and also bring the offenders to book. We don't think robbery was the only motive as the assailants desecrated the holy chapel," the cardinal added.

Referring to the rise in the number of attacks on Christians, he said such incidents had created panic in the minds of the community members.

"The churches across the country have been doing good work in education and health care and everyone acknowledged it. But all of a sudden, things have undergone a sea change. What has happened to our society and to the people in governance?" the cardinal asked, referring to the hate speeches.

"Doesn't the government at the Centre have any such mechanism to rein in such people when irresponsible and unfortunate statements flow? Can't people in the government ask them to stop this?"

Cardinal Oswald Gracias, one of the eight cardinals from across the world appointed by Pope Francis on his advisory board to help him govern the Catholic Church, said he was pained at the frequent attacks on Christians in the country.

"The Ranaghat incident also seems to be a hate crime as the assailants desecrated the chapel. It is more than the robbery angle being projected by police," he said.

Asked about the reassurance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month that his government would ensure complete freedom of faith and will always safeguard the rights of minorities, Cardinal Baselios Cleemis said: "It is not working on the ground. The government is not asking their leaders to shut their mouths and not spread hate speeches."

He referred to the vandalism of a church at Hisar in Haryana on Sunday and the statement by chief minister and BJP leader Manohar Lal Khattar that the priest had been luring Hindu youths to his faith.

The Prime Minister's Office today issued a statement saying that Modi was deeply concerned about the incidents in Hisar and Nadia, where Ranaghat is located. "The PMO has asked for an immediate report on facts and action taken regarding the incidents," it added. (See Page 6)

Cardinal Baselios Cleemis said: "We are more worried about the future of this country and its secular fabric than Christianity."

"The symbol of God is being politicised now. But we have a great hope in the vast majority of Hindus of this country who are with us and will defeat these divisive elements," he added.