Demand for bishop Franco Mulakkal's arrest grows louder in Kerala

KOCHI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: People from different walks of life pledged their support to the five nuns, who have been protesting the delay in arresting rape-suspect bishop Franco Mulakkal of the Jalandhar diocese, on Wednesday.

The fifth day of the protest saw the agitation spreading to other parts of the state, including the capital Thiruvananthapuram, where a senior Metropolitan demanded the arrest of the bishop, who had allegedly raped a nun.

The protest venue at Vanchi Square in Kochi recorded more footfalls on Wednesday, as cultural and political leaders, besides commoners, joined in solidarity with the nuns from Kuruvilangadu.

Poet Kalpetta Narayanan, PSC former chairman K S Radhakrishnan, filmmaker Alleppey Ashraf, K K Rama of RMPI, MM Lawrence of CPM, AN Radhakrishnan and Shobha Surendran of the BJP, former MLA M P Shreyams Kumar, singer Shahabaz Aman, director Ashiq Abu and actor Rima Kallingal were the prominent personalities who joined the protest.

The Women in Cinema Collective, too, officially announced its support to the rape survivor, besides condemning Poonjar MLA P C George for his unsavoury comments in the issue.

Poet Narayanan condemned the police's attitude, saying the bishop was not even properly questioned, while the survivor has been repeatedly interviewed.

"Even now, only a notice has been sent. No real action has been initiated," he said.

Rama of the Revolutionary Marxist Party of India termed the situation shameful, and added that the government has failed in arresting a rapist.

CPM leader Lawrence said, "a bride of the Lord has revealed an instance of abuse. The church is keeping quiet, but Jesus wouldn't have kept mum."

The propaganda that the protest was against the church was launched to ensure the safety of an individual, he said.

Reading out a statement, actor Rima said the society has been witnessing more fearless, invincible and determined women. "The time of silence is over," she said even as reposing her faith in the government.

Metropolitan Geevarghese Mor Coorilos and poet B Sugathakumari led the solidarity collective of social activists in the state capital.

Addressing a gathering in front of the secretariat, Coorilos likened the spate of atrocities against women to the recent floods that wreaked the state.

Sister Jesme, a former nun, said the church has been behaving like an underworld where protests were being controlled by seniors.

Pledging solidarity to the nuns, Sugathakumari said "it's a disgrace to the state that the nuns have to continue the agitation for so long. The nuns have equal rights like any other person and the court and church should protect them," she said.

Kerala Mahila Sangom, and the state unit of National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) also demanded the arrest of Mulakkal.

BJP leaders PP Mukundan and Adv Suresh, activist Jomon Puthenpurakkal, former minister V Surendran Pillai, activist Jomon Puthenpurackal and Kamraj Congress president Vishnupuram Chandrasekhar also participated in the protest.

Later in the evening, another group organized a protest in front of the Martyr's Column at Palayam in Thiruvananthapuram.