Kerala - Alappuzha   

Steps to end row over funds

ALAPPUZHA: The State government has begun its efforts to pacify the Latin Catholic Church Diocese in Alappuzha, which is on a protest mode alleging diversion of tsunami relief funds and neglect of the Alappuzha coast in general.

Truce talks, the seeds of which were sowed by Cooperation Minister G. Sudhakaran here early this week, will be held at the Bishop House here on September 23.

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government is expected to be represented by Mr. Sudhakaran, Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac and Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran while the church’s view will be put forward by a committee headed by Alappuzha Bishop Stephen Athipozhiyil.

The diocese, which had literally immobilised the civil headquarters through a massive protest march attended by over 15,000 people to the District Collectorate here on Monday, said on Tuesday that it would intensify its agitation if the government did not hold talks before September 22.

However, Mr. Sudhakaran, who had earlier appealed to the church to withdraw from the Collectorate march, interfered once again and said it would be convenient for all three Ministers to attend the talks if they were held a day later. The talks will be held from 7 p.m. on Sunday.

However, diocese sources said they were already chalking out plans to intensify the agitation, in case the talks failed.

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Steps to end row over funds

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