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After Sr Lucy, Jacobite priest in Kerala warned for supporting nuns' protest

September 23, 2018, 9:08 pm
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Kerala nuns protest
Rev. Ramban Yuhanon has been vocal about his support for the nuns' protest in Kerala and has demanded the implementation of the 'Church Act' to bring more accountability in the handling of its wealth.
TNM Staff
A priest of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, Rev. Ramban Yuhanon, has been warned by the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church in Kerala against participating in any movement supporting the nuns' protest against rape-accused Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal. The move comes days after Sr Lucy of the Mananthavady diocese of the Orthodox Church in Kerala was barred from participating in church activities after she lent her support to the protesting nuns. A letter addressed by the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate to Rev. Ramban read, "...there were some complaints from some of our Bishops and people about some of your recent activities. You are known to have continuously been engaged in public demonstrations in the name of the 'Church Act Bill'. Especially your involvement and public speeches supporting the Catholic nuns who are conducting some sort of strike at High Court junction, Ernakulam, are all seemingly more than the envisaged living style of our Syrian Orthodox monks. Our system of monasticism is more of a style of confinement and concentrated in fasting, prayer etc., than public activities and demonstrations. And as such, the above mentioned activities of yours is said to have caused disgrace for the status of monasticism in our church of India. Also, these sort of activities of yours have been brought to the attention of His Holiness our Patriarch as well. “Therefore our Patriarch, his Holiness Mar Ignatius Aphrem II, who is in charge of all the monks in the church, has directed us to advice and instruct you to refrain yourself from the said public style of activities and to be more obedient to our episcopal system of the church." The letter also warned the priest that if he does not heed the warning, disciplinary action will be taken against him by the church. A prominent figure in the Jacobite church in Kerala, Rev. Ramban is a priest at the Piramadam Dayara near Muvattupuzha in Kerala. The warning came following Rev. Ramban's participation in the 14-day protest to arrest Bishop Franco held in Kochi. Rev. Ramban also demanded the implementation of the Church Act to bring more accountability in handling the Church's wealth in Kerala. He spoke at the protest to arrest rape accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal held in Kochi and had even participated in the solidarity protests held at Kottayam and Thodupuzha.  Reacting to the warning, he said that he woild continue his particpation in the fight for justice and stand in solidarity with the protestin Catholic nuns.  The church, claryfying their stance, said that they had not banned Rev. Ramban but had asked him to not participate in protest activities organised against church leadership. Prior to this, Orthodox nun Sr Lucy was banned by her church from church activities for supporting the cause of the protesting nuns in Kerala. A part of the Mananthavady Diocese in Wayanad, Sr Lucy Kalappura, was reportedly banned from activities such as prayer, teaching the Bible, attending worship service and other actives in her parish including offering holy communion, for lending her support to the nuns' protest to get rape accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal arrested. She later clarified to the media that she had not received any written notice on this, but was deeply saddened that she had been barred from church activities. She also pointed out that she joined the protest to support her fellow nuns, and that she had not spoken against the Church. The St Mary's Church, however, has denied that any action has officially been taken against Sr Lucy. According to a press release, the church claimed that Sr Lucy used to be involved in the training of believers and baptism activities of the church. Some churchgoers disapproved of her recent criticism of the church through social media and other publications, and this was informed to the priest, Fr Stephen Kottakkal. Churchgoers had a problem with her training their children on faith, and being involved in baptism activities, the church said.
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Malayalam channel features sign language translations of news for a week

September 23, 2018, 10:51 pm
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Human Interest
To mark International Day of Sign Languages, the channel will feature anchors providing sign language translations of the day’s top news till September 27.
Sharanya Gopinathan
Screenshot from Asianet News YouTube
Regular viewers of Asianet News channel noticed something different about the channel’s regular news bulletins on Sunday: an additional box on the side of the screen featuring news anchors simultaneously providing sign language translations of the day’s top news. This new initiative was carried out in observance of International Day of Sign Languages (23 September). S Biju, the assistant executive editor at Asianet, tells TNM that this initiative will continue to be carried out until Thursday, 27 September. Biju said, “It is estimated that roughly 1 per cent of people has varying degrees of speech or hearing disabilities. The National Institute of Speech and Hearing (NISH) in Thiruvananthapuram is one of the fundamental institutes working in this area. They requested us to support them in their initiative to make the media more hearing impaired-friendly and we obliged.” The anchors providing the sign language news on Asianet are from NISH. “We trained them over the last few days, we gave them instructions and familiarised them with our system. The sign language anchors will be joining us for three of our regular news bulletins: the 8 AM, 2 PM and 4 PM bulletins. They come into our studios and present along with our anchors.” He said that it was a mild challenge for the team, in terms of television and production nuances and readjusting graphics. “Outwardly it looks simple, but there was some inner challenges. However, we thought we will support them,” Biju added. When asked if there were any additional costs required to carry out this initiative, Biju says, “Just capital costs, in terms of time and energy. A few people may have to come in earlier to train them, but in an organisation, it can be managed without any additional operational cost. There’s not really an issue of cost.” But he did mention that the space where Asianet is broadcasting these special anchors onscreen is actually the space normally given to branding and advertising. “Our commercial team has decided to pull out the advertisements in those spaces in favour of this initiative.” Biju went on to elucidate just why this is such an important initiative. “If more people understand sign language, we can break barriers between communities. If we all knew sign language, we could communicate easily with the deaf community, and with each other if we meet non-hearing impaired individuals who speak unfamiliar languages. Learning sign language creates a lot of understanding and sympathy for the hearing impaired community.” He mentions that while there may be some challenges to continuing the program after this initiative which will end on Thursday - like the fact that the full television screen space is often necessary when there’s critical, developing or important breaking news - there are ways to carry such initiatives forward. “If there is a strong organisation or some universities working in this space as there in other countries like the US, it’s possible to create a resource where regular news bulletins are converted to sign language bulletins. They can be shown in a second screen, on web platforms and mobile platforms, or separate bulletins can be created by such groups working in the field. They can perhaps take up major bulletins of different news organisations. If the organisation gives the consent, it can easily be done in a second screen, or as a separate resource,” Biju explains. While Asianet is not the only channel to start such an initiative — Doordarshan’s prime-time news has been hearing impaired-friendly since 2009 — it’s heartening to see a leading private news channel attempt an inclusive and really rather jolly initiative like this and hope it will inspire other news channels to do the same and inspire organisations to try to find ways in which news can be made accessible to different marginalised communities through innovative new projects.
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Yellow alert declared in 5 Kerala districts as Met Dept predicts heavy rains

September 23, 2018, 11:10 pm
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Rains
The districts of Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Wayanad, Thrissur and Palakkad are set to witness heavy rains on Tuesday and Wednesday.
TNM Staff
Just a month after the state of Kerala was hit by heavy rains and floods, causing heavy destruction to human lives and property the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday has announced that heavy rains are predicted in five districts of the state on September 25 and 26. The Chief Minister’s Office on Sunday night took to Twitter to announce that a yellow alert has been declared in the districts of Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Wayanad on September 25 while Palakkad, Thrissur, Idukki and Wayanad districts will be on yellow alert on September 26. Yellow alert is the first weather alert to notify the people living in disaster-prone areas to take precautionary measures. This alert is for weather conditions that do not pose any immediate threat to the people living in that area but is more like an alert to inform them and make them aware of the conditions so that they are prepared. “MeT department Centre has predicted heavy rainfall (64.4mm to 124.4mm) in these districts,” said the CMO office in their tweet on Sunday night. CMO Kerala also went on to say, “The State Disaster Management Authority has instructed district authorities to be on alert and directed them to take necessary precautions.” It is also to be noted that the districts which have been put on yellow alert on September 25 and 26 were also some of the worst-hit districts during the floods which ravaged the state in August. Kerala witnessed heavy rains, floods and landslides since the month of July. But the worst phase of the monsoon began on August 8 and this lasted till about the end of the month, which resulted in the death of more than 450 people, displacing lakhs of people and destruction of houses and property of many.
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Church grapples with a new problem – number of nuns joining convents drops sharply

September 24, 2018, 12:41 am
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Controversy
With the Bishop Franco Mulakkal case, sources in the church say the number of nuns may fall even further.
Sandeep Vellaram
September saw Kerala rocked by protests as five nuns from the Kuravilangad convent agitated outside the High Court demanding justice for their colleague, who accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal of the Jalandhar Diocese of raping her multiple times between 2014 and 2016. The protests finally wound up on Friday, September 21, when the Bishop was arrested by the police. But the church now has a new worry. Sources in the know say that the number of women applying to become nuns has seen a decline in the last few years.  “The recent synod of the Syro Malabar Church has decided to study this decline. If this continues, in the next 15 years, most nunneries will have to close as there aren’t enough people in them,” a source said. A senior priest belonging to the Jalandhar Diocese said parents weren’t willing to send their daughters to the convent. “This has exposed the weakness of the church. There is a notion that the church sided with the hound and not with the hare in this case,” he added.   In 2015, there were 1,09,2018 Christian families in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese, and there were 1,742 priests and 6,781 nuns. A senior priest from the Archdiocese said, “At present, the number of youths in the seminary is 735, and the number of nuns is just 210. It is not just here; this is a trend we see throughout the state.” The Palai diocese has historically boasted of a high number of seminarians and novices, but it has dropped here too. “Earlier, around 800 aspirants used to join the church, of which 500 alone were nuns. But it has not fallen to 200 aspirants, and only 50 are nuns,” a source said. Dr Paul Thelakkat, former spokesperson of the Syro Malabar Church, tells TNM that the protest and the way the church handled the entire affair is bound to affect the number of people coming to study in the church. “The latest incident has created the image that women are not safe inside convents. Now, families are bound to think twice before allowing their kids to study in convents.” says Fr Thelakkat. Sr Jesme, who stepped out of her nun robes a decade ago and wrote a book alleging harassment by her seniors, said, “A group of blind laity members will surely send their daughters to the convent. The church leadership and priests are telling everyone that Bishop Mulakkal is innocent and the nun is the real culprit. A section of the laity will definitely believe this and will send their daughters to the church,” she says. Basic problems An issue of India Currents, an English weekly published by the Capuchins of Krist Jyothi, alleged that nuns aren’t allowed to use sanitary napkins in convents -- they are only allowed to use pieces of cloth. Fr Suresh Mathew, editor of the magazine, says, “There are allegations of discrimination between earning and non-earning members within the same congregation. There are also instances of denial of basic facilities in many convents. It may sound primitive, but it is a fact that in many cases, nuns and novices continue with the unhygienic practice of using cloths during their menstruation period as sanitary pads are a strict no." A church official tells us the story of a woman from Delhi who wanted to join a convent. She carried basic toiletries with her, including sanitary napkins. However, other members of the seminary dissuaded her, telling her other novices from Jharkhand and Odisha could not afford the sanitary napkins. They, instead, asked her to use cloths so everyone was equal. “She felt her dignity was under threat, and left the convent,” the official said. Looking ahead According to Fr Augustine Vattoli, a senior priest from the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese, general convener of Save our Sisters, “If we consider the Catholic church, nuns are the most vulnerable members of the order. Most convents are situated in isolated places, and they are difficult to access. I hope the convents change and nuns are given more freedom. More women will join convents then.” However, Sr Jessy Kurian, an advocate at the Supreme Court and former member of the National Commission for Minority Education Institutions, has a different perspective. “I hope the recent protests and the arrest of Bishop Franco Mulakkal will encourage more people to join the church. The fact that the people stood with the nuns during their protest shows that society stands with them. I hope this attracts more aspirants to the church.”
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Rape accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal sent to judicial custody till October 6

September 24, 2018, 1:21 am
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Kerala Nun Rape Case
Bishop Franco Mulakkal was produced before the magistrate court and had filed an application seeking bail which was rejected by the magistrate.
TNM Staff
Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who was arrested by the Kerala police on Friday on charges of raping a nun of the Missionaries of Jesus congregation in Kottayam, has been remanded to judicial custody till October 6 by the Pala Judicial Magistrate Court on Monday. On Saturday, the Bishop was produced before the magistrate court after his 2-day police custody ended. The police had secured his custody till September 24. On Monday, the bishop filed an application seeking bail when he was produced in court, which was rejected by the magistrate. He now will be lodged in Pala sub-jail till October 6. Meanwhile, the Bishop has also moved Kerala High Court seeking bail in the case. The High court has adjourned the bail application to Thursday. Bishop Franco Mulakkal has been charged with the rape of a 44-year-old nun between 2014 to 2016. The nun had filed a complaint in June alleging that she was sexually assaulted by the bishop multiple times between the two years in the Kuravilangad convent in Kerala. He was finally arrested on Friday after he was questioned in the case for three consecutive days. Superintendent of Police Harishankar had told media persons late on Friday evening that they had found evidence of rape against the Bishop and hence decided the arrest him. The news led to celebrations at Vanchi Square near the High Court in Kochi where protesters - led by 5 nuns from the Catholic Missionaries of Jesus congregation - were on a strike for the past 14 days to get the accused Bishop arrested. On Saturday, videos showed rape accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal being taken to the local magistrate court in Pala with heavy police security, even as scores of people were seen thronging the court premises to see him. And as the crowds booed collectively, the rape accused was seen wearing a smile as he moved through the crowds and entered the police van. Last week, a day before his arrest, the Apostolic Nunciature (Pope’s Ambassador) to India accepted the request of the rape accused Bishop to relieve him of his religious duties temporarily. Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Agnelo Rufino Gracias, the Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Bombay, to take over the duties of Bishop Franco Mulakkal.
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Women can have a ‘companion’ in the labour room: Kerala starts scheme in govt hospitals

September 24, 2018, 4:23 am
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Health
Having a familiar face – a husband or a female relative – provides comfort to expectant mothers during labour, say doctors.
Sharanya Gopinathan
Representational image
Imagine, if you can, being in the worst pain you’ll probably ever experience in your life: that of an expectant mother delivering a child. Imagine, then, being utterly alone in this time of fear and pain, with no familiar faces beside you to provide comfort and solace. This is the current reality for most women delivering babies in government hospitals in Kerala, but if all goes to plan, this will change in the near future.  A “labour companionship” program is set to be rolled out in four additional major government hospitals in Kerala, including Kollam Victoria Hospital and Women and Children’s Hospital in Thycaud, Kottarakara and Palakkad, and other major government hospitals by the end of this year. As per the program, one family member of the expectant mother will be allowed in the labour room.  Why a labour companion When asked why a labour companionship program is considered necessary, Dr Ushakumari, Additional Director of Health Services (ADHS) Family Welfare says, “One problem is staff shortage, nursing staff often have to attend to first aid and other patients, and so it will be easier if relatives are present in labour room with expectant mothers. If any complaints are being raised by the mother, it will be more comfortable for these ladies to have their own relatives with them, to tell in detail what their issues are to be communicated to the staff.”  She adds, “As part of LaQshya standards, we had started this labour companionship in certain taluk hospitals and WCD hospitals, like the Punalur Government Taluk Hospital. It will start in other major institutions this year itself.” The LaQshya program is a Union Health Ministry initiative aimed at improving quality of care in labour rooms and maternity operation theatres. Dr Shahirsha, superintendent of Punalur Government Taluk Hospital, where the labour companionship program has already been in place for one year, tells us of another reason why such a program is necessary. “Usually, the labour room is a very strange area. The only person the female patient knows there is the doctor. Everyone else, the nurses, paramedical staff, nursing assistants…the labour room is full of people she is unfamiliar with, and women enter the labour room with a lot of fear. Even if there are relatives nearby inside the hospital, they feel very far away from their relatives, they can’t even call out to them. So combined with all the pain and fear, they are alone in an atmosphere that’s not very comfortable, which can lead to hysterical behaviour, postpartum psychosis and other problems.” This feeling of fear and alienation, and the psychological or behavioural problems that can ensue as a result, can be alleviated in some part by having the husband or a close female relative during delivery. Infrastructure upgrade and an attitude change  When asked about what changes need to be put in place in order to roll out such a program in a hospital, Dr Ushakumari says, “The first thing is infrastructure changes. For birth companionship, they have to separate the first stage labour ward, and have separate enclosed areas for these patients who are about to go through delivery. Then only the bystander or companion can be near to these patients.” Dr Shahirsha says Punalur hospital addresses the issue of privacy, which is often raised when discussing labour companionship, by having “a separate labour suite within the labour ward for deliveries. It is a private cubicle that looks and feels almost like a separate room. Inside that cubicle, there will only be the patient, her husband or companion, nursing staff and doctor. The partition gives privacy, and nobody else can see inside.”  Dr Ushakumari says that the costs for developing infrastructure to implement the labour companionship program is “included within the infrastructure, repair and maintenance allowance according to LaQshya standards. Some amount of money is needed for this additional maintenance, and creation of additional partitions and cubicle formations.”  Dr Shahirsha is heartened by the fact that other hospitals in Kerala will also be implementing such a program, and mentions what else needs to be done, aside from infrastructure development, in order for the program to be a success. “Firstly, and most importantly, there needs to be a change in attitude, of the medical and nursing staff.”  Dr Ushakumari says the government will address this too. “As part of LaQshya standards, we have monthly Maternal Mortality Reduction (MMR) meetings. During that meeting, all these things [including details are explained to gynaecologists and representatives from different hospitals. They will in turn will relay this information to the staff in their hospitals.”  Why the husband is the ideal labour companion Punalur Hospital also provides counselling to the husband and wife before the delivery, where they can choose whether to have a labour companion or not. Dr Shahirsha says that patients can choose their labour companions themselves, be it the husband, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, or any other close female relative. “But mostly it is the husband who is chosen.”  He believes that the husband should be the ideal labour companion for a few reasons. “First of all, delivery is one of the most painful conditions of a woman's life. The husband should also see this and experience it first-hand. Secondly, as of now, all the responsibilities of family growth are on the female partner’s shoulders: from birth to birth planning, to birth spacing, to delivery to lactation. In the present situation, all this is the female’s responsibility, and the male has no role: he’s just a sexual partner in this equation. This needs to change, and having such a [labour companionship] program would help. It would be eye-opening for them.”  Dr Ushakumari agrees that having husbands involved in the delivery process will have a positive impact. “If the husband is willing to stay with the woman during delivery, it will definitely be very good and more comfortable,” she says. As to how many women will actually opt for this new program, we’ll have to wait and see. Dr Shahirsha says that of 150 births in the Punalur hospital per month, around 10% choose the labour companionship program. When asked why such an apparently low number opt for the program, he clarifies that it is in fact a surprisingly high rate, “Actually, it’s a change in concept, and a total attitudinal shift. Initially, when we started the program one year back, on average only one or two patients would opt for the program in a month. Now, about 15 or 16 opt for it. Last month we had about 15 births with labour companions.”
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Kerala’s first internet de-addiction clinic inaugurated: Here’s how it will help

September 24, 2018, 5:24 am
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Health
The Psychology department of Rajagiri College of Social Sciences in Kalamassery has inaugurated Kerala’s first internet de-addiction centre.
Sharanya Gopinathan
Flickr via Creative Commons
Do you need to check your phone for alerts every few minutes? Is your internet usage keeping you up at night or away from school? Forgotten what your real friends and family look like because of all the time you spend on social media? You could be suffering from internet addiction, a growing public health issue. In order to tackle the problem being reported particularly among young people, the Psychology department of Rajagiri College of Social Sciences in Kalamassery, on September 19, inaugurated a pioneering Healthy Internet Technology Experience Clinic (HITEC), as part of the new Centre for Behavioural Sciences Clinic. HITEC is Kerala’s first internet de-addiction centre.   “We’ve noticed that internet addiction has increased among college students,” shares Divya Prabha, assistant professor at Rajagiri College. “Especially at Rajagiri College itself, there are a lot of students who are addicted to the internet. In everything that they have to do, including research, research-related activities and assignments, more importance is being given to the internet,” she adds.   Divya mentions that the clinic will operate on certain hours a week. “The sessions will be held in the afternoon, on Saturday from 2 to 5 pm. During that particular period, only those people having this particular issue will be taken care of. On all other days, regular consultation for other psychological issues will be continued at the Centre for Behavioural Sciences Clinic.” Dr Manoj Sharma, additional professor at the Service for Healthy Use of Technology (SHUT) clinic at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru, has been running a similar service in Bengaluru since 2014, and gives us some insight on how activities at HITEC may be carried out when patients begin trickling in. “Based on inputs of users and family members, we at NIMHANS had found that we should start such a service to raise awareness about the issue of internet addiction, train manpower to deal with this issue and to continue our research in this area. Thanks to media and more awareness about this issue, we’re getting about ten cases per week,” Manoj says.   He says that the majority of patients at SHUT are online gamers, social media users and some people who are addicted to online pornography. “Most of them are in the age group of 16 to 19. Though we have seen patients as young as 11 and 12, these are a rarity. Most are in this majority age group,” he adds.   He says that a person is considered addicted to the internet if their internet usage causes social, physical or behavioural changes or if their behaviour meets the 4 Cs: Craving (for internet when not in use or not able to connect to the internet), loss of Control (over time spent online), Compulsion (they have to check every four to five hours) and Consequences (like physical, social or behaviour symptoms of overuse). Dr Manoj laid out the process through which they carry out de-addiction in patients. “Since most of our patients are children and young adults, they don’t seek the treatment themselves. They’re brought in by their parents because they feel there is a decline in their academics or there is a change in their self-care, outdoor activities or communication, or they get aggressive or threaten self-harm if the technology is taken away from them,” he shares. Dr Manoj adds most of the children who join the programme are in denial during the first session and claim that they don’t have any problem. “So, what we do initially is hold a clinical interview, just to understand them and then we conduct a clinical assessment, which gives us some quantifiable scores about the quantity and type of usage. We can show them the quantifiable data and scores and tell them that they fall in the addiction category.” He mentions that the de-addiction activities are tailored to the particularities of the specific age group they most commonly see and the de-addiction is based on lifestyle changes. “We work on their sleep timings, how they can work on morning schedules which can involve increased attendance in schools and colleges, increased interaction with parents and making certain slots of the day where parents, as well as the patients, will not use the mobiles, so they can increase face-to-face communication. We bring in some physical activities to their daily routine and we educate them that after every half an hour of internet or mobile usage is the time to take a break so that the physical dysfunction of excessive use can be reduced. Since we’re not advising that their mobile phones be taken away, they feel quite comfortable to carry out these lifestyle changes. Once they start these lifestyle changes, we automatically see a reduction in their internet use also,” he adds. Parents are also part of the de-addiction process. “For the parents also, we conduct psycho-education, we tell them instead of just talking about mobile phones, they should talk to them about something that the child enjoys and to try to fulfil the needs that the children get from internet uses through other means: like appreciating them, giving them more validation and building a sense of physical community with their family and friends instead of the online community.”   He reports success in cases where the patient is retained (or comes back for follow up visits or stays in touch with the doctor through telephone) and when the patient is willing to cooperate in the treatment process. “If they’re using the internet for 10 hours, we see them reduce to maybe four or five hours. So, we generally achieve a 50 to 60 per cent reduction in most cases.” Dr Manoj adds says it's a very positive step that clinics like the HITEC clinic in Kerala are being opened and that there’s a growing awareness around the issue of internet addiction.
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People power wins: Church forced to revoke ban on Sr Lucy after parishioners protest

September 24, 2018, 7:26 pm
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Protest
Ironically, the church had claimed that they were banning Sr Lucy from church activities because parishioners were not happy – an excuse that came crashing down when the protest began.
Korah Abraham
Monday evening witnessed dramatic scenes outside the St Mary’s Church in Karakkamala in Wayanad district. Sister Lucy, who was earlier banned by the church from performing any church duties, was seen smiling as over a hundred people stood around her, assuring her that she has their support. The church authorities on Monday were forced to withdraw the disciplinary action they had taken against Sister Lucy, following the protests by the people of the parish who did not allow parish priest, Father Stephen Kottakkal, to leave the church until he withdrew the action against the nun. This incident comes a day after the church had banned the sister from performing her religious duties because she had joined the nuns outside the Kochi High Court in their protest, demanding for the arrest of the rape-accused Jalandhar Bishop, Franco Mulakkal. Ironically, the reason given by the church as to why they took action against the sister was that the people of the parish were not happy with the sister taking part in the protests and that they did not want her to train their children about the bible and faith. “This is the proof that the believers of the church stand with the nuns,” an elated Sister Lucy said to media outside the St Mary’s Parish hall on Monday, following the lift of her ban, “I have been receiving a lot of support from the people of the parish, and even on social media, I heard that there are a lot of people who have voiced out their unwavering support. I cannot ask for anything more. Justice has won here.” Around 100 people belonging to the parish barged inside the parish hall on Monday around 4.30 pm demanding an answer from the parish priest, Father Stephen Kottakkal as to why such action was taken against the sister. They also demanded that the priest tell them which parish member had asked for action to be taken against sister Lucy. Following the protests by the people, Father Stephen called for a meeting with the parish members and church officials at the Parish hall, even as the protestors waited outside the hall for the verdict. When the meeting began to take a little longer to come up with a decision, the protesters began to feel agitated and started shouting at the priest demanding the process was sped up. A few minutes later, he came out of the hall and announced that the ban on the sister has been lifted. Following this, were scenes of joy and jubilation outside the church. Sister Lucy who was in the adjacent building during this time, then joined the people to thank them and later spoke to the media. “To all the believers of the church, I would like to say that their energy is the strength of the church and their love is the belief of the church,” said an overjoyed sister Lucy, “I have no hatred or anger against anyone. And I’m not scared to face any more challenges because we have a huge number of people who believe in us and support us.”
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Singer-violinist Balabhaskar's child dies in car accident, couple critical

September 24, 2018, 8:36 pm
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Accident
While the singer and his wife have been admitted with serious injuries, their daughter sadly succumbed to her injuries.
TNM Staff
Facebook/balabhaskar.page
Renowned singer and violinist Balabhaskar and his family met with an accident at Pallipuram near Thiruvananthapuram in the early hours of Tuesday morning. As per preliminary information, the family was on the way back from Thrissur where they had gone to visit a temple. While Balabhaskar and his wife, Lakshmi have been rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, their 2-year-old daughter, Tejasvini, unfortunately could not be saved. “We assume that the driver dozed off, which caused the accident. The family was returning from Thrissur after visiting a temple,” Mangalapuram police told TNM. The violinist and his family were travelling in the vehicle on Tuesday morning when it hit a tree. The police are currently speculating that the driver may have dozed off while driving, which may have caused him to crash into the tree. A highway patrol unit rushed the family to a nearby hospital immediately, however, the child could not be saved. Her body has been kept at the hospital. Balabhaskar and Lakshmi are reported to be in a critical condition at present and are receiving treatment from doctors. His driver, Arjun, too was injured in the accident and has also been admitted to the hospital. The singer is a quite well-known musician and is popular for his stage performances. He began his music career at the young age of 12 and was the youngest music composer to have worked in the Malayalam film industry, with the soundtrack for the movie Mangalya Pallak. The musician is well known for his work with fusion music in the South. He is based out of Thiruvananthapuram.
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Nun rape case: Why we can't say amen to Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council’s arguments

September 24, 2018, 8:57 pm
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Kerala nun rape case
Criticising the priests and nuns who stood in solidarity with the survivor nun, the KCBC said that these protestors were not in 'keeping with the Christian values’.
Sreedevi Jayarajan
The Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) on Monday issued a press note in the aftermath of the arrest of Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who was accused of raping a nun multiple times between 2014 and 2016. Criticising the priests and nuns who stood in solidarity with the survivor nun, the KCBC said that these protestors were not in 'keeping with the Christian values, rightful interests of the Catholic Church and even the statutes of their religious congregation.' This is not the first such statement from a church body that is problematic, for various reasons. TNM is going to look at the important arguments in the statement, and analyse it. ‘Don’t tarnish image’ – but what has the Church been doing? The press note states that the judgement in the case should not be impaired by pressure from any corner, and no attempts should be made to tarnish the image of the accused or the complainant. "Since the case is sub judice the KCBC thinks that it is not right to comment on the truth and falsity of it. At the same time, the further enquiry and the trial of the case should take place impartially and without pressure from any corner… We pray that full justice take place in this matter. It is not to be forgotten that any conscious attempts at tarnishing the person, honour and the dignity of the complainant and the accused are not in keeping with justice and fairness." This statement, ironically, is in direct contradiction to the actions of the Church prior to the arrest of the Bishop. The accused – a powerful leader of the diocese of Jalandhar – was only arrested three months after a complaint was filed by the nun at the Kuravilangad police station. It further took 14 days of protests by the five nuns who were backing the survivor, and hundreds of other supporters (some even went on a hunger strike) for the police to summon the Bishop and question him, leading to his arrest on Friday. Meanwhile, attempts to tarnish and silence those who supported the survivor nun were made by different sections of the Catholic church. On September 13, the Missionaries of Jesus congregation, to which the complainant belongs, revealed the identity of the survivor with her photograph and a statement which attempted to prove the innocence of the Bishop. According to the sisters, the authorities within the congregation even actively discouraged other nuns from attending the protest. ‘Separate the accused from the institution’ – but why is the institution backing the accused? The second point made in KCBC's letter alleged that vested interests were attempting to disrupt the order of the Catholic church."We should be vigilant about those who try to put down the Church on account of an accusation against a single individual. When a reputed Indian journalist was accused of a sexual offence by his own female colleague and he was jailed no one went ahead accusing all media personnel. When a minister in Kerala had to resign on account of a similar accusation no one pointed their finger against all the ministers and politicians. So also when a Supreme Court Judge was accused of a similar case, because of which he had to resign from the chairmanship of the State Human Rights’ Commission, no one had attacked all the judges of the Supreme Court nor the judiciary in toto. Now as an accusation of sexual molestation is raised against a bishop of the Catholic Church some with vested interests and some sections of the media have taken it as an occasion to implicate the Church and the bishops as a whole, without even having the investigation completed,” the statement says. The Catholic Church has been in the dock worldwide for harbouring and protecting sexual offenders without providing victims (women and children) with a mechanism to seek redressal. In a public statement, the protesting nuns have even said that they had spoken to several authorities within the Church regarding the issue, but their attempts were futile. Unlike sexual offence in other institutions, be it the media or the judiciary, where workplace harassment laws are in place, the Church itself has no organisational guidelines on dealing with harassment, rape or other offences. This is because the institution believes the clergy to be servants of god, who commit no sin (which is clearly not the case). This makes it hard to detach the institution from the rape-accused individual. The only way to ensure this is to scrutinise the way the organisation itself is structured and bring about reform. At this point, it is also clear that the Church has put its weight behind the rape-accused Bishop, but has not lent any support to the survivor, who is also a part of the institution. This calls for sharp criticism against the Church for its biased and bigoted stance on the issue. ‘We did everything by the book’ – really? "The KCBC had also let it known that it had requested the Church authorities to act at the earliest possible upon the complaint registered by the nun. Yet as the complaint of the nun was under the consideration of the police and the court, it was not right from the part of the Church authorities to hastily act upon the same matter. At the same time without waiting for the conclusion of the police enquiry the Church authority has acted by withholding Bishop Franco Mulakkal from the administration of the diocese of Jalandhar. Hence when the nun made a complaint appropriately towards the Church authorities due redressing action has come without delay. Therefore the argument that the nun did not get justice from Church does not stand," the statement claims. The survivor nun, her family and the other nuns have produced enough evidence to expose this lie. In the last two years, they have approached many authorities within the Church, and have even written letters to the Archbishop, the Nuncio and the Vatican. “Legal redressal was the last resort after we exhausted all possible ways to settle the issue within the congregation. We spoke to the Kuravilangad church vicar and requested him to remove us from the Diocese of Jalandhar. He, in turn, asked us to speak with the Bishop of Pala, who sent us to Archbishop Alanchery. We even wrote letters to the Vatican Nuncio in India, but received no response from them. In the meantime, the survivor was being abused verbally and psychologically by the Bishop,” Sister Josephine, one of the nuns who was protesting, told TNM. Following the police complaint, several attempts to hush up the case were made by authorities within the institution. In a leaked audio tape, Catholic priest James Erthayil was heard bribing the nuns with land to get them to withdraw support to the survivor. The Church failed to take cognisance of this issue and address the offenders. ‘Rightful interests of Catholic Church’ don’t include nuns’ safety? "Whatever the reasons were, the fact that some priests and nuns agitating in the streets giving occasion to the enemies of the Church to attack the Church and the Church authorities and to disdain even the sacraments, has caused much pain to all who love the Church. We hope that the members of the Church and the public will recognize that their action was not in keeping with Christian values, rightful interests of the Catholic Church and even of the statutes of their Religious Congregation," the statement by the spokesperson of the KCBC concluded. The 'whatever reason' as the statement frivolously mentions is a serious charge of rape. And the statement betrays the real interests of the KCBC – the image of the Catholic Church, and not justice. Should the ‘rightful interests of the Catholic Church’ not be that the nuns – who are part of the Church – can live without fear of sexual abuse? Should not their values dictate that the survivor is heard and action is taken against the Bishop, if and when he is found guilty? Instead, the KCBC has made it clear that they have a problem with the protesters, and not with the accused. And that in itself exposes their ‘neutral’ stand that they claim to be professing.
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'Death threat from Bishop Franco's aides': Survivor nun's sister files complaint

September 24, 2018, 11:57 pm
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Kerala Nun Rape Case
In the complaint, the survivor's sister said Bishop Franco Mulakkal's close aides threatened her and her family and even took her picture during the hunger strike in Kochi.
Sreedevi Jayarajan
In the latest development, sister of the 44-year-old survivor nun, who accused Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal of rape, has said that she and her family have been receiving death threats from the accused Bishop's aides. In a complaint filed at the DGP's office, she said, “The accused (Bishop Franco Mulakkal) is capable of committing any violent act and wields financial and political clout. My family and I are facing death threats from him. The Bishop and his aides harbour grudge against the family members of the survivor nun, including me, as we were the ones who supported her in her decision to seek legal recourse to indict him.” The letter went on to reveal details of the accused's aides from whom the survivor and her family have been receiving threats."They also have enmity towards my brother, as acted in a timely manner and interacted with the media, thus bringing the issue into the public forum. The accused and his aides have even raised false accusations against him in the past and filed police complaints, which were written off as false cases after an enquiry then. As the case progressed, Thomas Chittuparamban, a close aide of Franco Mulakkal, issued a direct threat to me, saying that if the Bishop was arrested, my son and brother’s lives would be in danger. Besides this, another aide of the Bishop, Unni Chittuparamban, took my photo when I was on a hunger strike during the protest in Kochi,” the statement reads. The complainant went on to appeal investigation into the case and for police protection for her and her family in the face of these threats. "With Franco Mulakkal's arrest, there is a threat to our lives and assets. With the current situation, I appeal to the officials to look into the complaint and provide protection to the life and assets of my family," she added. 
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Abhimanyu murder: Kerala police files chargesheet against 16 persons

September 25, 2018, 1:27 am
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Crime
Abhimanyu, an SFI leader was stabbed to death on July 2 allegedly by CFI and SDPI activists inside Maharajas college.
Korah Abraham
More than two months after the murder of Abhimanyu, a Student’s Federation of India (SFI) leader at the Maharajas College in Ernakulam district of Kerala, the investigation team has submitted the chargesheet of the case. Suresh Kumar, the Assistant Commissioner of Police (AC) told TNM that the chargesheet was submitted at court number 2 of the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Ernakulam at 11:30 am on Tuesday. “This is the first chargesheet and it is filed against 16 activists belonging to the Campus Front of India (CFI), Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and Popular Front of India (PFI),” said AC Suresh Kumar. The 1,500-page chargesheet alleges that it was 21-year-old Mekattu Sahal, a native of Maradu in Ernakulam who stabbed Abhimanyu, a second year Bsc student of the Maharajas college. The chargesheet also names CFI state secretary, JI Muhammed, CFI district president, Arif Bin Salim, State Secretary, Mohammed Rifa, Jeffrey, Fazaluddin, Anas, CFI Kochi area treasurer, Rajeeb,  Abdul Rashid Saneesh, Adil Bin Salim, Bilal, Riyaz Hussain, Saneesh, Sharukh Amani, Abdul Nasser and Anup. There are a total of 30 accused in the case and at the moment, the chargesheet is filed against 16 persons who were directly involved in the crime. The chargesheet was prepared under the leadership of control room ACP Suresh Kumar and ACP Lalji. Abhimanyu was stabbed to death on July 2 allegedly by CFI and SDPI activists inside the college campus. His murder followed a clash between SFI and CFI activists regarding the use of college walls by the various student unions. The incident took place just a day before classes were to begin for the freshers and Abhimanyu had written, “Let communalism die,” on one of the walls, much to the dislike of the CFI activists. Following the murder, the Kerala police began a massive crackdown on CFI and SDPI activists across the state and managed to arrest over 20 persons in connection with the case.
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23rd International Film Festival of Kerala uncertain over lack of funds

September 25, 2018, 2:41 am
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IFFK
Kerala is going through a rebuilding process after being hit by the worst ever floods in a century.
IANS
Pic courtesy: IFFK
The fate of the 23rd edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) is uncertain due to paucity of funds as the state is going through a rebuilding process after being hit by the worst ever floods last month. IFFK is held in December every year. Earlier this month, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan gave a directive that on account of the huge requirement of funds for rebuilding the state, all extravagant programmes including the IFFK and the State Youth Festival be called off this year. But succumbing to pressure from several quarters, it was decided to go ahead with the Youth Festival on a shoestring budget without any extravagance. Then came a request that the IFFK should be held too. Soon after his return from the US, Pinarayi gave the nod for the IFFK, but on the condition that the organisers should utilise their own funds. State Minister for Films AK Balan told the media on Tuesday that for last year's IFFK, the budget was Rs 6 crore."Due to the present circumstances, it has been worked out that to hold the festival in a very modest manner, we would require (at least) Rs 3 crore. Of this, the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy (the state-owned body that conducts the IFFK) will be able to bring in Rs 2 crore and they should be allowed to take Rs 1 crore from the plan funds."If that's not possible, then things might not work out," said Balan. The final decision will be made only after Pinarayi returns from Delhi."Rs 3 crore is needed and we have decided to cancel the inaugural and closing ceremonies, and increase the delegate fees and no free passes would be issued. We have also planned to cut down on expensive films and on the hotel expenses," added Balan.
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AISF's 'Punch Modi challenge’ to protest fuel price rise results in actual punches in Kerala

September 25, 2018, 4:22 am
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Protest
In some locations, the symbolic Punch Modi challenge ended in violence, and police intervention.
Sharanya Gopinathan
PTI Image
A challenge led by student political leaders that involves “punching” a replica of Narendra Modi in a crowded public place. What could go wrong? In a few sites of this unique student protest, only everything. The “Punch Modi” challenge, planned by members of the All India Students Federation (AISF) in Kerala, saw AISF members hanging punching bags bearing the face of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in public places, and asking passers-by to either hug or punch the punching bag, depending on whether they believed the Modi government had done anything good for the people of the country, or the opposite.  In some locations, the Punch Modi protest merely saw AISF student activists using boxing gloves to punch the bag themselves, while in other locations, like in Kochi, the public joined in, with over 500 members of the public who were not affiliated to any political groups, hitting or punching the bag hung there. This protest was carried out by the AISF in numerous locations across the state, particularly in university campuses, busy roads and other public areas. AISF State Secretary Subhesh Sudhakaran told TNM that the protest, which was held at various locations on different days, starting 15 days ago, was a response to PM Modi’s own grand statement to the country’s citizens. “Soon after demonetisation was announced, the PM himself said that if the negative effects of the initiative were not tackled by his government within 50 days, you can throw stones at him. It has been more than two years and we are still suffering from the negative impact of demonetisation, and so many other issues, like caste-based violence by the RSS, GST and rising fuel prices. We are merely responding to his words.” But unfortunately, in some locations, the symbolic Punch Modi challenge ended in violence, and police intervention. One such was the protest held at around 4 PM at the Mofussil Bus Stand (New Bus Stand) in Kozhikode on Sunday. Members of the BJP Yuva Morcha arrived at the site of the Punch Modi protest in Kozhikode, and took objection to the nature of AISF’s challenge and the slogans being raised there, asserting that they would not tolerate any such insults to the Prime Minister. Members of the two rival student political groups—all of whom were male college students between the ages of 18 and 22—entered into a physical altercation at the site of the protest, after which the police were called in. Videos of the altercation show the student leaders continuing to shout political slogans as they are led into the police jeep, while other students at the site, who were not being arrested, retorted with slogans of their own.  15 members of AISF present at that protest, and 5 members of the BJP Yuva Morcha were arrested by Kasaba police in Kozhikode. Kasaba police told TNM that the arrested activists had cases under IPC sec 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 149 (offences committed in pursuing common goal of unlawful assembly) and 283 (obstruction of public paths) registered against them. They were allowed to post bail and leave the station after a CrPC 41 notice (notice of appearance before a police officer) was issued to them.  AISF State Secretary Subhesh Sudhakaran told TNM that fights had broken out in other locations as well, like Ernakulam, Kollam, Kannur, and Palakkad, and that cases had been filed against them for holding such a protest in other locations like Kayamkulam and Allapuzha.  He also points out that this particular challenge has actually gained media and public attention because of the opposition it was met with. “Burning effigies of politicians is a common feature of many protests in democratic countries. It is done widely in India, and was done in the US with effigies of Donald Trump as well. But somehow, our particular protest is getting a lot of opposition that we haven’t seen before.”
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‘Not afraid anymore’: Kerala lesbian couple tells TNM after HC lets them live together

September 25, 2018, 6:15 am
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Gender
Maya’s* family filed a missing person’s complaint after they learnt of her relationship with Riju*.
Cris
Image for representation
Riju* and Maya* could now live together, legally. On Monday, the Kerala High Court said yes to their wishes – the lesbian couple could live together. They don’t need to be afraid anymore, though there’s a lot of reason for them to be. Incidents of the past two months have not exactly been peachy for these two women, who have known each other for over two years now. “We met over an online site for lesbians and fell in love,” says Riju, a day after she took Maya home. Riju is now 36 and Maya, 24. At the time they decided to live together, the Supreme Court verdict decriminalising homosexuality had not yet come. “If we had known it was coming so soon, we would have waited a little more,” Riju says. It was a few months ago that Maya’s family became aware of her relationship. Coming from a remote place in Neyyatinkara, Thiruvananthapuram, she did not find it easy convincing her parents about the relationship. It was easier for Riju, who lived with her sister and the sister’s child in Kollam. She says, “I just told them about bringing Maya home.” The two had by then decided to live together. Trouble came when Maya, after leaving with Riju, informed her family of the decision, says Advocate KK Preetha who presented Riju’s case along with advocates Ferha and Prasanth. “After Maya informed her family, they went to the Neyyatinkara police station with a missing person complaint. The couple then got a call from the police station to present themselves at the station,” Preetha says. Maya and Riju came to the station and the Parassala police (under whose jurisdiction the case falls) presented them at the Neyyatinkara court which declared them both ‘set at liberty’. The two were leaving the court together when Maya’s relatives came in a car, beat them both up and took her away. She was then admitted at a hospital for mental health in Thiruvananthapuram, from where she contacted Riju through text messages. Riju visited her at the hospital twice before Maya’s family took her away from there. There was no more news of the younger partner for days. That’s when Riju filed a Habeas Corpus at the High Court last week, requiring Maya be produced before the court. "For a while I fought alone, felt alone. But then I contacted my community members - like Jijo of Queerala. They came to my help. So did the advocates," says Riju. On the day of the judgement, Riju was tense. “I went with a 50-50 feeling, but trusting that Maya would say yes, she would want to come with me,” she says. She was right. Maya said exactly that when the court asked her who she’d like to go with. “When Maya said she wants to go with the petitioner (Riju) the court gave the verdict in favour of them, in light of the recent declaration by the Supreme Court against section 377,” Preetha says. The couple are now at Riju’s home, feeling safe at last. “No, I am not afraid they would attack us again. That was their place, and the attack was sudden. We were not expecting it. Now they are not going to harm us here,” Riju says. Riju was working in Kuwait before all this, and plans to go again once everything is settled. Maya would find a job in Kollam. “We hope to get married too, one day soon,” Riju says.  *Names changed to protect privacy 
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Singer-violinist Balabhaskar remains critical following surgery: Doctors tell TNM

September 25, 2018, 6:28 am
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Accident
Balabhaskar sustained multiple organ failure and is on ventilator.
Korah Abraham
Noted singer and violinist Balabhaskar remains critical post-surgery, said doctors from Ananthapuri Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram where he was admitted along with his wife, Lakshmi, following a car accident on the wee hours of Tuesday morning. Dr Marthandan Pillai of the Neurology Department at Ananthapuri Hospital, who performed the surgery, spoke to TNM and stated that the singer’s condition could only be assessed in a few days time. “Balabhaskar is very critical. He has sustained multiple organ failure and there are multiple fractures in his legs. His neck was dislocated and in order to correct this, we took him up for surgery,” said Dr Marthandan Pillai, “He is currently on ventilator support as his lungs are severely damaged. We cannot say what the condition is at present. We will monitor him for a few days and see.” The singer’s wife Lakshmi has sustained multiple fractures in different parts of the body and is on ventilator, but is recovering. The singer-musician and his family met with an accident at Pallipuram, near his home town of Thiruvananthapuram, in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The couple and their 2-year-old daughter, Tejasvini, were on the way back from a temple trip in Thrissur when the car crashed into a tree. While the couple was rushed to a nearby hospital, Tejasvini, sadly could not be saved. Their driver, Arjun, too was reported to have sustained minor injuries. As per Mangalapuram police, who tended to the accident, there were suspicions that the driver may have dozed off on the way back, causing him to ram into the tree. Balabhaskar is a noted musician who began his music career at the mere age of 12. He composed a soundtrack for the Malayalam film Mangalya Pallak, and is the youngest music composer to have worked in the industry. He is well-known for his unique South Indian fusion music.
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Upcoming Malayalam film’s makers promise entire revenue for Kerala flood relief

September 25, 2018, 7:22 pm
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Rains
The film titled "Aickarakkonathe Bhishaguaranmaar” is produced by UAE-based Aries Group and will release on Oct 5.
IANS
The makers of a new film Aickarakkonathe Bhishaguaranmaar, to be released in 100 theatres on October 5, have pledged the entire revenue towards flood relief operations. The film is produced by UAE-based Aries Group. They have decided to use 75 per cent of the revenue earned for building homes for those who lost their homes in the worst ever floods that hit the state last month, while the remaining 25 per cent of the revenue would go to those who suffered losses and are working in the film industry. Sohan Roy, chairman and CEO of Aries Group, said that it's their duty to help Kerala, which is going through its most devastating situation in a century, in every possible way."This is not the first time that we are offering a helping hand to the needy. Aries Group had provided the entire revenue of its first movie 'Jalam' for the homeless in Idukki. Aries Group had also delivered the flood affected people of Kuttanadu with essential commodities," said Roy. The Aries Group will use 75 per cent of the revenue generated and they will identify the beneficiary and build a new home, while the 25 per cent would be utilised in tandem with Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), which will help to identify those who work in the film industry and suffered losses. Aickarakkonathe Bhishaguaranmaar tells the tale of the life of common people in a village named Aickarakkonam. The film's cast includes Vipin Mangalassery, Samardh Ambujakshan, Sinseer Muhammad, Miyashree, Hridya Nijilesh, Lakshmi Atul, Shyam Kurup, most of who were selected from the national level auditions conducted by Indywood Talent Hunt. Directed by Biju Majid, the film is produced by Abhini Sohan.
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Kerala police summon Missionaries of Jesus PRO for releasing photo of survivor nun

September 25, 2018, 8:10 pm
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Kerala Nun Rape Case
A complaint has also been registered against MLA PC George for his use of abusive language.
TNM Staff
The Kerala police issued a notice to the Missionaries of Jesus public relations officer for revealing the identity of the survivor nun through a photograph, to expand investigations in the rape case against Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal, according to a Manorama report. The Missionaries of Jesus congregation, to which the rape accused Bishop and the survivor nun belong, released a photo of the nun, in direct violation of the Supreme Court guidelines to not reveal the identity of the victim. The photo, of the survivor nun sitting next to the Bishop, was released to the media along with a statement to reveal the ‘findings’ of the congregation’s internal enquiry commission. However, it came with a warning to the media, against “violating the law and publishing the photograph.” The Kuravilangad police station, where the complaint was registered, issued the notice to Sr Amala, the congregation PRO, a day after the Bishop’s arrest. In a parallel complaint, the survivor has approached the Kottayam SP office against independent MLA PC George for the abusive language he used against her. The complaint has been forwarded to the Special Investigation Team probing the case. The National Commission for Women has also termed the MLA’s use of language deeply disturbing. Rape accused Bishop of Jalandhar Franco Mulakkal was arrested on Friday after three days of rigorous questioning. He was produced before the Pala Magistrate court where he was allowed to be kept in police custody for two days. He has further been remanded to judicial custody by the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Pala until October 6. He was taken to Sub Jail Pala on September 24, the same day he was remanded.
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Kerala CM happy after ‘fruitful’ discussion with PM Modi on flood relief

September 25, 2018, 8:29 pm
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Kerala Flood Relief
Pinarayi Vijayan asked the Centre for a special grant of Rs 5,000 crore to rebuild the state, among other demands.
TNM Staff
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday night expressed happiness after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he had "very fruitful" discussions on how to rebuild the flood-battered state. The CM called on Modi seeking the full support of the Centre in rebuilding the state in the aftermath of the worst ever floods in a century. Among the demands he has raised with Modi is a 10% increase in all central schemes, a sum of Rs 4,796 crore from the National Disaster Fund and Rs 5,000 crore as special grant. The hike of 10% assistance in all central schemes in the state will generate an additional Rs 10,000 crores, said the CM. The state had also sought to hike the existing debt limit of 3.5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 4.5% in the current fiscal year."Eighty per cent of Kerala's population has been directly or indirectly affected by the tragedy. The state alone cannot handle the crisis. Hence the complete support of the Centre is required and this has been brought to the attention of the Prime Minister," he said. The CM, however, confirmed to the media that there is no change in the Centre’s stance with regard to receiving foreign aid. We can receive aid from foreign companies operating in the country. However, there are obstacles in receiving aid from foreign governments. The PM cited certain examples in this regard, the CM said. The rains and the ensuing disaster claimed 483 lives in the state and at the height of the deluge, there were 14.5 lakh people in over 3,000 relief camps. "We have sought the help of the Centre to get assistance from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. The PM has expressed all support in the demands that we raised." He said there were issues in accepting help from foreign countries. "But there is no bar in accepting help from the diaspora." Pinarayi Vijayan returned from the US on Sunday after being treated for an undisclosed ailment. (With inputs from IANS)  
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‘Bishop Franco is innocent’: Missionaries of Jesus to fast, atone for ‘nuns' sins’

September 26, 2018, 12:45 am
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Kerala nun rape case
In a statement, Missionaries of Jesus Congregation said the police are trying to manipulate the investigation and persuade other nuns to file a complaint against him.
Sandeep Vellaram
Even after a two-week long protest by five nuns culminated in the arrest of Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who raped a nun from Missionaries of Jesus (MJ) Congregation, officials of the congregation seem to be on a victim-blaming mode. As per a press release issued by Sister Rejina, Mother General of the MJ congregation, they will be fasting for the accused Bishop on Wednesday, as they believe he is innocent. “The accused bishop is innocent and the police arrested him without any reasons,” it says. The statement repeatedly claims that the nun’s complaint accusing Franco of rape has been fabricated. “Bishop Franco is innocent and MJ congregation is responsible for crucifying him. Hence, the members of the congregation will be fasting and praying on Wednesday to god, seeking forgiveness,” it reads. The press release also raises concerns about the questioning pattern of the police officials. “There is no proof against the bishop and the police are trying to manipulate the investigation. They are even persuading other nuns to file a complaint against him. The investigating officers are having a propaganda and are conspiring to create more fake evidence. They are illegally probing against him and also walking into the convents without prior appointment from the convent officials. They are also forcibly directing us to provide statement against him,” the MJ officials alleged. “It has been noted that the probe team is eager to prove that the complainant nun revealed to the congregation members about the “story of exploitation” even before a complaint was filed against her by a woman in Delhi,” said the officials of the congregation. It states, “We noticed that the investigation team members and the nuns of the Kuravilangad convent have been sharing some lighter moments in the convent till 2 am in the recent days. We would like to assert that this is in violation of the convent rules. We suspect that there is a conspiracy behind the move and they have joined together to create more proof against the bishop.” It also claims that the investigation team is mentally torturing nuns in the convents under the congregation and many of them are gripped by fear. “Some have been so badly affected that they had to seek medical help. In the present situation, many nuns are afraid to tell the truth,” reads the statement from Missionaries of Jesus congregation.
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