Verghese V Joseph –
Wading into yet another unnecessary controversy, Kerala’s Thalassery Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany on Sunday had to downplay his comments comparing political martyrs and apostles.
While addressing the Kerala Catholic Youth Movement (KCYM) youth day celebration at Cherupuzha in Kannur on Saturday, the archbishop said most of the political martyrs are those who were killed for creating an unnecessary ruckus with people or those who slipped to their death from bridges while being chased by the police.
Mar Joseph Pamplani said that the apostles had dedicated their lives to the welfare of others and they are the real martyrs but political martyrs are the ones who died fighting unnecessarily.
In his speech, Mar Joseph Pamplani asserted that the apostles’ martyrdom was for the truth but political martyrs were not for that. However, he did not take the name of any political party.
“The 12 apostles of Jesus dedicated their lives to the welfare of others. They died as martyrs. They are not like political martyrs. Political martyrs died by engaging in unnecessary quarrels,” Mar Joseph Pamplany said at the gathering.
However, the Archdiocese of Thalassery justified the prelate and his speech. “Certain people with vested interest have misinterpreted the archbishop’s speech. The Church’s culture is one that always respects martyrs. Several instances of martyrdom can be seen in political spheres as well. However, certain people are victims of vested interests. The bishop was encouraging us not to simulate these people,” the archdiocese explained in a statement issued on Monday.
Sparking a political row over his comments, the archbishop’s retraction came soon after he faced sharp criticism from political leaders including Congress, and CPM’s state committee member P Jayarajan asking if Mahatma Gandhi was killed for going to fight.
Facing stiff opposition for his comments, Mar Pamplany said creating a controversy over his speech was unnecessary.
Jayarajan said that he did not know under what circumstances Pamplani made the statement insulting the martyrs.
LDF convener EP Jayarajan asked: “Did Gandhiji die by falling from the bridge?” N Arun, state president of AIYF, the youth wing of the CPI, said the Archbishop’s statement against martyrs is an insult to cultural Kerala itself.
However, slamming the Left parties for their attack against Joseph Pamplani, BJP state president K Surendran said the Archbishop has his right to express his opinion.
Archbishop Joseph Pamplani’s statement over political martyrdom has sparked a controversy in Kerala. His statement favouring the BJP and the Central government had grabbed headlines recently. Joseph Pamplany was the first one from the Christian community who extended support to the BJP, saying that if the Centre raises the price of rubber to Rs 300 per kg, the Church will help the BJP get an MP from Kerala.