UDF & LDF backs Church Complex on Government Land; Hindu Aikya Vedi Launches Protest

Idukki: The Hindu Aikya Vedi has protested against the palatable moves made by the local Christian congregation to get a church complex constructed on government land, in Vandiperiyar. A few months ago, a structure bearing a cross was removed from the land which was procured for constructing a bridge. Sources indicated that the Tahsildar had granted permission for constructing a fresh church in another locale. This matter, on a legal basis, can be sanctioned only by the district collector. However, sources indicated that the Tahsildar had to bow before pressures from the Church.

Following this, the land belonging to Excise Department was taken into the congregation’s custody for construction of the Church. “A complaint was filed by Hindu Aikya Vedi against the move, with a written complaint given to the collector. Following this, Church authorities started using political influence at the district level. For this, they are allegedly being supported by the UDF and Peerumedu MLA Bijimol,” revealed sources to HK.

The Church authorities were directed to hand over a written request for construction of the church which they refused to do. “Church authorities have no land to point to, when the question of locale for construction comes up. They cannot go ahead with construction of the church on excise land. Authorities have planned to go ahead with church construction by flouting laws. They have taken a stand that construction will proceed otherwise at the spot from where the structure was previously constructed. This will jeopardize construction of the bridge. But we will not let construction of church on government land and will stop this at any cost,” said Hindu Aikya Vedi.

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