Madurai, June 15: President of the United Christian Council, Bishop Anthony Pappusamy, today strongly condemned Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's remarks against Pope John Paul II. In a statement here, he alleged that Jayalalithaa was fanning 'hate politics' and used her party's majority to bring the anti-conversion law, which "violated the basic human and religious rights”.
The Chief Minister's criticism against the Pope "showed her immaturity and bias," he said.
Stating that religious rights and human rights were protected by the international declarations and conventions, he said the Pope, as the member of the United Nations, had every right to condemn the violation of religious rights in Tamil Nadu.
He threatened that Christians would be forced to launch an agitation if the Chief Minister did not withdraw the statement against the Pope.
On Friday last, Jayalalithaa had said the Pope had no business to talk about the anti-conversion laws enacted by a democratically elected governments in India.
Bureau Report