Kerala - Kochi   

`State must protect minority rights'

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: Union Minister for Overseas Affairs Vayalar Ravi said here on Friday that it was up to the State to protect rights of the minorities.

These rights were an inalienable part of and formed a fundamental feature of the Constitution, he said. Referring to the recent legislation on self-financing courses, he said that States did not have the right to interpret the constitutional definition of minorities.

He was inaugurating the first ever global meet of the Syro-Malabar emigrants organised by the Synodal Commission for Evangelization and Pastoral Care of the Migrants at St. Thomas Mount, Kakkanadu.

Mr. Ravi also said that some quarters appeared too eager to trample on the rights of the minorities but that the State had the duty to protect the minority rights.

Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil who presided over at the inauguration of the three-day meet mentioned that there were serious problems on several fronts but that the meet was a venue for matters of the spirit.

He said that the meet would help regain the identity of the Syro-Malabar emigrants and that this was an important step towards keeping the traditions of faith alive.

The Cardinal, who was not feeling well, made a short speech while Bishop Joseph Mananthodath read out his address to the more than 400-strong gathering.

Earlier in the evening, Archbishop of Thrissur Jacob Thoomkuzhy led the Mass.

Bishop Gregory Karotemprel, Bishop Paul Hinder, Vicar Apostolic of Arabia and Archbishop Joseph Powathil were among those present at the inauguration.

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