Thiruvananthapuram, June 12 (BPNS)
The Kozhikode archdiocese of the Catholic church has asked the devotees not to attend the centenary celebration function at Kozhikode wearing black clothes and black masks. This is in view of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurating the programme and his newfound aversion to black colour. It may be noted that Kerala police are providing unprecedented security to Chief Minister after the revelation of gold smuggling case accused, Swapna Suresh that Pinarayi Vijayan and his family had links to gold smuggling rackets. Opposition Congress, Muslim League and BJP are on street in protest to the Chief Minister which has led to the police increasing his security cover and bringing in several restrictions.
The church in a WhatsApp communication to its devotees said that the communication is due to the direction from the state police that no participants should wear black clothes or black masks.
It may be noted that the Kerala police had forcefully removed people, even octogenarians, wearing black masks and black clothes during the Chief Minister’s programme. Two transgender people who had worn black clothes in Kochi on Saturday and who had reached the Metro station to board a train were blocked by the Kerala police and were dumped in a police vehicle when they had questioned the audacity of the police to block them.
Even black umbrella is not being allowed in the state during Chief Minister’s programme.
Kerala leader of opposition and senior Congress leader, V.D. Satheeshan has in a press conference at Kochi on Sunday mocked that the Chief Minister’s mind has also turned black.
A priest who is part of the organizing committee of the centenary celebrations while speaking to BPNS said, “ This was never heard of and we have no other options other than sending a message to our devotees to participate in the programme without wearing black clothes or black masks. This is due to the directive that we got from the Kozhikode police.”
It may be noted that Cardinal George Alanchery and several Bishops and Priests of the Catholic church will be attending the programme at Kozhikode on Sunday.
