LDF govt infringing minorities' rights: KCBC

Kochi, July 20 (UNI) Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) today alleged that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government was infringing into the rights of minorities.

In a joint statement here, KCBC President Dr George Punnakottil and Secretary Varghese Chakkalakal said '' the government, through its education policy was trying to deny Constitutional rights to the minorities by creating a smokescreen of controversies.'' They took strong exception to the government's decision to cancel affiliation of three engineering colleges under the Catholic Sabha following pastoral letters of the Bishops.

They said the Council would not take the confrontation path and was ready for unconditional talks with the government to iron out the differences in the education policy.

'' The minorities especially the Christians were affected by the government's self-financing professional college policy, decision to give control of schools to panchayats concerned, single-window admission procedure at the higher secondary level, curriculum to erode the religious values and the pressure to charge more fees from Christian students in Sabha's self-financing colleges,'' they said.

The Council would fight for their rights and uphold the democratic principles of the country, they added.

UNI