Thread by @seshanm

#ChurchPlaysPolitics
Pinarayi Vijayan government so far unsuccessful in breaking the impasse with the protesters and the Latin Catholic Church which is backing their cause indiatoday.in/india-today-in…

"The Pinarayi government views the protests led by the Latin Catholic Church as politically motivated. The church has sought the support of the Congress-led Opposition on the issue."

"On September 12, its representatives met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Thiruvananthapuram during the party’s Bharat Jodo campaign."

"If the government doesn’t listen to our demands, we will take action politically,” Monsignor Eugene H. Pereira, vicar general of

"the Thiruvananthapuram archdiocese, told INDIA TODAY."

"Of late, the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council has extended full support to the Vizhinjam protests."

"“The government is tackling the issue with restraint. But the church leaders are adamant that they won’t allow construction of the port. No government can agree to stall construction work like this,” said a senior Kerala official"

"The Latin Catholic fisherfolk are a consolidated vote bank in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha and Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituencies and 20 assembly segments."

"The Vizhinjam port will provide large-scale employment opportunity to the local people. What’s the point of stalling the project now? The protesters are trying to obstruct development by triggering religious sentiments,”feels Ashok Gopalakrishnan,who hails from the project area"

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