By our Special Correspondent
Kochi, July 31 (IVC) Imams of the Central Juma Masjid , Muvattupuzha and Petta Muhayudeen and Mahalla Committee presidents had called on the Principal, Fr Dr. Francis kannadan of the Nirmala College, Muvattupuzha near here , Manager Dr Fr Pius Malekandathil and Kothamangalam Diocese’s Vicar General, Fr Vincent Nedungadi and expressed their regret on July 29 over the untoward incident occurred at the college.
It was an ideal act and worthy of emulation for others of the country to avoid communal disharmony.
The problem arose in the Nirmala College at Muvattupuzha when a section of girl-students demanded that they wanted a room of the college for offering religious prayers. They held a sit-in before the Principal’s Office to press their demand on July 26 and created tension and confusion. Taking into consideration that the demand was for making space for the anti-social elements to play communal card in this regard, the Imams and other religious leaders acted promptly in the right direction and avoided tense situation in the college.
The Imams and the Mahalla OOffice-bearers said that the incident took place in thhe college was most unfortunate and they expressed their regret.
There is a mosque, which is only five minutes’ walk from the college and it is equipped with facilities for offering prayers for girl-students and women .They said, if there were no sufficient facilities for offering prayers by girl-students , the Mahallas would create comfortable facilities and solve the problem amicably.
They said that the college was functioning smooth. Te recent happeningsy for over 70 years and with the cordial relations with the college and it could not be allowed to impair under any circumstances. They said no one would be allowed to break communal harmony by giving publicity out of the way.
The Public Affairs Committee (PAC) of the Syro-Malabar Church described the demand of girl-students as a ill-advised move against the Nirmala College by a section students as a“serious issue”.
Bishop Thomas Tharayil, Convener of the PAC said in a statement here on Jyly 28, there has been a concerted and planned move in recent times against the Christian minority institutions.
The recent happenings at the Nirmala college were a part of the religious communal “invasion” on the Christian institutions, thee statement added. Any efforts to destabilize Christian minority institutions would be dealt with strongly, the bishop said.
BJP state president K Surendran alleged in Thrissur on July 29 that some people with vested interest were trying to create issues in Hindu and Christian institutions. “The principal of a college was threatened for not allowing Namaz in the college. Religious fundamentalists are behind this issue. The LDF and the Congress are supporting them. Their students organizations are encouraging these fundamentalists”, he told newsmen.
