Bishop Thomas K. Oomen, Moderator of the Church of South India, recently published an open letter to the people of the country and many others globally, to stand against the country’s National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government’s anti-poor, anti-Dalit, anti-tribal policies and practices. The church leader chastised the government for its discriminatory, unconstitutional ideology and called upon the people of India to “shake the foundations of another empire being built by the corporate fascists.” He drew parallels to the uprising led by Mahatma Gandhi at the end of the “Salt March” in April 1930.
Bishop Oomen begins his letter,
“The Church of South India, which is the second largest Church in India with more than 4.5 Million members, most of them being dalits, adivasis, poor farmers and fisher folks, prays during every worship service, ‘Lord we pray that it may please you to guide with your pure and peace-loving wisdom those who bear authority in the affairs of humankind, especially the President of the Indian Republic, the Prime Minister, the Governor of our State, the Chief Minister and all those who serve in the Government that we and all people may be governed with justice and honour.’ This shows how deeply this Church longs for a nation that is ruled in justice and peace. However, over the past few years, especially during the last four years, we are extremely alarmed at the way our nation is being ruled by Government at the Centre. As a citizen of India and as the head of an Indian Church, which belong to a minority religion, with majority of its members belonging to the minority communities, nightmare to the poor and the minorities in India”
Local press have covered the release of the letter, including The New Indian Express and The Hindu.
