Nuns protesting ‘to make a name’

Kerala MLA says protest an example of exploiting the clauses in the law that offers protection to women

Outspoken Kerala lawmaker, P.C. George, who has been critical of the protest by some nuns in the state demanding the arrest of the bishop of Jalandhar who is accused of sexually abusing a nun, reiterated his stance yesterday.

George, who represents the Poonjar assembly constituency as an independent MLA, had earned widespread condemnation after he wondered last week “why the victim thought of complaining only after being raped 13 times”.

He also suggested a medical check-up of the protesting nuns, and said that a nun ceased to be a nun when she was sexually violated.

The nuns have been on a strike in front of the Kerala High Court in Kochi since Saturday, demanding the arrest of the Jalandhar bishop, Franco Mulakkal, who is accused of repeatedly raping one of their colleagues.

Following his controversial statement against the nun and her colleagues, when he was grilled on a national television channel, George stood his ground regarding his statements.

Yesterday, George reiterated his stand against the nuns, stating that their protest on the street was “to make a name”, and suggested the protest was an example of exploiting the clauses in the law that offers protection to women.

The nuns’ protest has earned increasing support as it entered the third day yesterday. Over the weekend, those who visited the strike location included justice Kemal Pasha, and former spokesman of the Syro-Malabar Church, Paul Thelekkat.

The nuns allege that top police officials are “protecting the bishop.”