In a recent interview, Rev. Fr. Kithiyon Chellamuthu, the state coordinator of Tamil Deshiya Christian Iyyakam, expressed profound disappointment over the silence of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party regarding an incident that unfolded at Kodambakkam Church. The incident, which occurred on the night of 30 March 2024, just hours before Easter, has stirred controversy and raised questions.
According to Rev. Fr. Chellamuthu, during a routine worship session at Fathima Nagar Church, government officials, including the static officer responsible for election affairs, abruptly interrupted the proceedings. Allegedly, without any prior notice or order, the officer demanded the cessation of the ritual and questioned the legality of the worship. This action, which occurred within the confines of the church, where such rituals had been conducted for the past 50 years, shocked the worshippers and sparked a confrontation between church representatives and the official.
LCU Fernandez, a prominent figure present at the scene, challenged the officer, questioning the legality and motive behind the interruption. However, what adds to the concern is the purported intervention of a DMK official in the crowd, who urged Fernandez not to escalate the matter and assured that Chief Minister Stalin would address the issue satisfactorily.
Rev. Fr. Chellamuthu raised pertinent questions about DMK’s commitment to protecting the rights of Christians, especially given their conspicuous silence on the incident. He said, “That any political party purporting to be a guardian of minority interests is merely deceptive. Those parties professing such a stance have failed to acknowledge or address this issue in any manner.”
He also criticized the party for not fielding a single Christian candidate among its 21 candidates for election and accused them of exploiting minority sentiments for political gains. He said, “They oppose Annamalai, but why the party DMK hasn’t nominated a candidate from their own ranks but instead opted for one from their alliance, notably from the same caste as Annamalai, which could exacerbate caste tensions.”
Furthermore, Rev. Fr. Chellamuthu highlighted historical grievances, citing instances where the Congress government, of which DMK is an ally, allegedly curtailed financial support to Christian institutions. He said, “During the Congress era, financial support to Christian institutions was terminated under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) due to protests by certain churches against the Kudankulam Atomic Energy Unit.”
He said, “DMK is deemed responsible for instigating all societal vices. Whenever Christian religious institutions acquiesce to governmental interference, ordinary individuals ultimately suffer dire consequences, such as the tragic case of Xavier Kumar, who was murdered by a group of 13 individuals, reportedly including a DMK functionary, in Kanyakumari.
He claimed, “The adverse events are not solely a result of actions by church administrations or the DMK, but rather stem from compromises between the DMK and the churches.”
Rev. Fr. Kithiyon Chellamuthu emphasized that even the entire lineage of the Karunanidhi family cannot rescue the churches from these challenges. Furthermore, he alleged that influential figures within churches seek assistance from the DMK and other political parties to conceal mistakes within their institutions.
Rev. Fr. Kithiyon Chellamuthu urged Christian religious institutions to maintain their independence from political affiliations. He showed an event scheduled for 7 April 2024 held by a pastor named Dr. George Anthonysamy. The event implicitly hints at Christians to vote for the INDI Alliance. He warned against aligning with any party and emphasized the importance of safeguarding the integrity and autonomy of religious institutions, regardless of political pressures.
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