Orthodox Church pressuring government ahead of Chengannur poll

Kottayam: The Orthodox Church which has a strong presence in the Chengannur Assembly constituency has been pressing the LDF government to implement the Supreme Court order in its favour regarding   the  disputes  with the Jacobite Church. The Church leadership wants to use the opportunity provided by the by-election to get its demand conceded  after the Supreme Court passed the orders on the ownership of  St Mary's Cathedral, Piravom,  Kolenchery St Peter’s and other churches.  

A team of  Church members visited  Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan last week and demanded the implementation of the verdict. “The CM assured us that our   demands will be considered,” said Yuhanon Mar Diascoros, secretary of the Bishops’ Synod of the Orthodox Church and Auxiliary Bishop of Kottayam. He refused to say whether the implementation of the SC verdict would have a bearing on the  by-election. "It is up to the people to decide such things.  We demand justice and the issue is getting naturally linked to the by-election,"  he said.

Church  member and senior KC(M) leader Joseph M. Puthussery told DC that the Orthodox Church  community  leadership has grievances  over the  non-implementation of  the SC verdict.  “This may influence the voting in Chengannur,” he said.    Orthodox Church laity secretary Biju Oomen said that though the Supreme Court had passed favourable verdicts,  these  had not been implemented so far.