Catholic Congress slams CPI(M) Kerala secretary M.V. Govindan over remarks against Archbishop Joseph Pamplany

The Catholic Congress has criticised Communist Party of India (Marxist( [CPI(M)] Kerala state secretary M.V. Govindan for his remarks against Thalassery Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplani, calling them “thoughtless”. 

Father Kaviyil Philip, global director of the Catholic Congress and member, Pastoral Council, Archdiocese of Thalassery, said Mr. Govindan “should not speak like Govindachamy,” a life sentence convict in a high-profile rape and murder case.

“Don’t forget that Mr. Govindan is currently in the same position as people such as Kodiyeri Balakrishnan (was). Let him decide whether to correct it (the remarks),” Fr. Philip said, adding that remembering with gratitude those who had helped was part of cultural values.

He suggested that Mr. Govindan may have made the statements “in an excited state.”

The row began after Mr. Govindan had accused Archbishop Pamplany of opportunism, alleging that the bishop criticised the BJP when two Kerala nuns were arrested in Chhattisgarh but later praised Union Home Minister Amit Shah after they were granted bail.

Earlier, the Thalassery Archdiocese had also condemned Mr. Govindan’s remarks, comparing these to those of “fascist forces” and questioning whether bishops should act “only after receiving directives from the AKG Centre.”