Kerala’s Latin Catholics demands greater representation

(March 01, 2011) More than 100,000 people attended a gathering of the Latin Catholic Church in southern India’s Kerala state on Sunday in what commentators say was a show of force ahead of state legislative assembly elections in April. The rally was organized by the Kerala Region Latin Catholic Council (KRLCC) and held in the state’s commercial hub in Kochi. Council president Archbishop Maria Calist Soosa Pakiam of Trivandrum told those present that the gathering was to express their frustration at the federal and state governments’ disregard for a number of demands the Latin community made last year. Only four demands directly benefited the community and others were for the poor irrespective of their religion or caste, the prelate said. He called for more Latin Catholics to be recruited into government jobs and a campaign to ensure their “due representation” in the legislative assembly. Archbishop Francis Kallarakkal of Verapoly stressed the need for unity to force the governments to accept their demands. Federal human resources development minister, Kapil Sibal, who opened the gathering, said the government would consider their demands.