Kottayam: Transport and Sports Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan had to make an unceremonious exit from the Orthodox Church dais at a function held at the St Paul’s Church, Pallam, to confer the title of ‘Shemasha’ on a member of the parish on Friday.
Baselios Marthoma Poulose Dwitheeyan Catholica Bava of the Church asked the minister to leave the dais since the synod of the Church had decided to boycott the chief minister and five other ministers for the alleged neglect shown towards the Church. Mr Radhakrishnan quit the dais after listening to the Bava, who said that he was unable to share the stage with the minister and that there was nothing personal against him.
“I wonder why the minister came for the function though we had clearly mentioned that we would not share the dais with any of the six ministers. We have nothing against Thiruvanchoor or any other ministers. Thiruvanchoor should understand our feelings. The decision of the synod is important and cannot be violated by anyone in the Church,” the Catholica Bava added.
The function was held to honour Mr Thomas Chandy, son of P.C. Chandy who was a constituency president of the Kerala Congress (M). A meeting to celebrate the jubilee of the ascendancy of the Bava as bishop was also scheduled to be held there.
