Church screens documentary about Manipur riots amid 'The Kerala Story' row

KOCHI: Amid controversy over a church screening the controversial 'The Kerala Story', a church in Kochi has screened a documentary related to the Manipur riots. "Manipur Cry of the Oppressed" was screened at St. Joseph Church in Sanjopuram under Ernakulam's Angamaly Archdiocese. The screening was held from 9.30 am for Bible school students.

Church vicar Nidhin Panavelil said that more than 100 Bible school students had the opportunity to watch the documentary and that the children should know about the Manipur riots. He added that the Kerala story is part of the Sangh Parivar agenda and it will not change just because some church or diocese calls it good.

Differences between Christian sects are intensifying over the screening of the Kerala Story, which the LDF and UDF call anti-Kerala, anti-Muslim and part of RSS' agenda. The film was screened in the Diocese of Idukki at the invitation of the Kerala Catholic Youth Movement. Later, the Diocese of Thamarassery also announced screening of the film, but later withdrew from it.

The justification of the Vigilance Commission of the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council is that it is an awareness to ensure that children do not go astray in romantic relationships. The Syro Malabar Church also supported it. However, the statement of Geevarghese Mor Coorilos, former Metropolitan of Niranam Diocese of Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church. that the movie based on lies was screened because some fell into political agenda showed the difference in this regard.