Govt evicting common people for monopolies; Latin Archdiocese lashes out at government

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Latin Archdiocese Archbishop Dr. Thomas J Netto on Friday alleged that the government was evicting common people in the name of development. The archbishop lashed out at the government while delivering his message to the believers after the Way of the Cross ceremony.

"The government is evicting ordinary people for monopolies. It is also suppressing the protests against such moves. Several people became homeless and had to live in godowns during the Vizhinjam protest. An approach that encourages monopolies disrupts traditional employment and livelihoods and causes migration. The new economic policies are pushing fishermen, tribals, Dalits and farmers into a dire situation," Dr. Thomas J Netto said.

Minister Antony Raju had participated in the Way of the Cross ceremony. The archbishop raised criticism against the government after the minister left. The Latin Archdiocese has criticized the government on this issue several times before. It had also staged a protest in Vizhinjam for several months. The remark made by the archbishop on Friday makes it clear that the Latin church is still unhappy with the government on the issue