Amid the upward spiral of the saffron brigade into a powerful dictatorship-like apparatus from the detritus of communal conflict filled India, with no one to raise voice against it, the concern expressed by Members of Parliament hailing from the Christian community on the saffronisation of education in India is appreciable because this move of the Christian legislators gives a sense of security to the community. We also appreciate the Christian institutions for being the driving spirit behind this initiative.According to media reports, Rajya Sabha deputy chairman P J Kurien, Oscar Fernandes and three others from Congress, Rabi Barnard and two others from AIADMK, Derek O’Brien from Trinamool Congress, Dilip Tirkey of BJD, Jose K Mani of Kerala Congress (M), P A Sangma (National People’s Party) and former Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio of the Nagaland People’s Front among others took the initiative to discuss the matter in New Delhi recently with Cardinal Baselios Cleemis presiding over the event. The media reports also said that West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalitha are also endorsing this movement of the Christian MPs.
In the meeting it was resolved that the MPs along with and representatives of all Christian institutions – schools, colleges, medical colleges, engineering colleges and technical education colleges will be submitting their missive to HRD minister Smriti Irani “to say that they should be consulted for the new policy that the government is planning”. The reports added that there are over 35,000 Christian-run institutions in the country.
Another notable thing here is that the Christian MPs cutting across party lines have to shed their differences to come together to fight for a common cause. This speaks that the Christian legislators will not compromise with their faith even if they have to put their political career at risk. Such move should be backed by every citizen if we are to protect democracy.
