Mumbai (AsiaNews) - The radical right wing Hindu Janajagruti Samiti wants to ban Catholic schools from India. The call was launched during the All India Hindu Convention, held from 11 to 17 June in Ramnathi village (Goa). According to participants, Catholic schools do not allow students to follow their Hindu religious traditions.
"A demand nothing short of absurd," responds Mgr. Theodore Mascarenhas, auxiliary bishop of Ranchi and former member of the Pontifical Council for Culture. "Those who attend our schools – he points out – do so of their own free will, because they receive an excellent education in these institutions."
"Most Hindus - the bishop told AsiaNews - do not agree with these radical forces. These extremists want to destroy the country. They are playing with the secular fabric of our great nation. "
The conference - organized "to found the Hindu Rashtra (" Hindu nation ") - the HJS released an" official resolution ", which states that " Hindu students studying in Catholic schools are forbidden to follow their customs, such as wearing mehndi [henna] or bindi. All this must stop. It is a total discrimination. " At the same time, the radical Hindu group has also demanded a ban on the slaughter of cow meat in the whole country.
Through AsiaNews Sajan George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) has condemned what he calls "deliberate attempts of Hindutva brigade to demean and discredit the Christian educational institutions. The government is attempting to 'Saffronize' education to spread and inculcate its nationalist agenda in the minds of young students. "
"It's interesting - the Christian leader points out - that Catholic schools are the most sought after even by the relatives of the same Hindu radicals. It's nothing new, given the current political mentality, as our institutions impart a secular, progressive and scientific education, as well as a value system. The 'Hindu brigade' is doing a great disservice to the future development of the country. "