Church publishes book on minority rights

(October, 01.2011) The Catholic Church in central India’s Madhya Pradesh state has published a handbook on the constitutional rights of minorities to safeguard their interests in the communally-sensitive state. The 84-page book titled, “Application of Special Constitutional Rights of Minority Educational Institutions,” is written by Father Anand Muttungal, the Catholic Church’s spokesman in Madhya Pradesh. The book is being aimed not just for members of the state’s various minority groups but also for government officials. Copies of the book, which is available both in Hindi and English, will be distributed free of charge. Fr Muttungal said a Church study found that very few people were aware of their rights. According to several Church sources the Catholic Church and its educational institutions in Madhya Pradesh are constantly being harassed by the state government headed by the pro-Hindu BJP party. Commenting on the book, Archbishop Leo Cornelio of Bhopal said on Friday, “we want the government officials to appreciate our efforts toward nation building despite being a tiny minority.” In most cases BJP officials don’t know what rights minorities have, which has led to harassment of community members, he added.