Kozhikode: Thalassery Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany has strongly refuted claims that the church leadership’s appeal to Kerala MPs for support of the Waqf Amendment Bill is politically motivated or communal. Addressing a Christian rights protection rally and public meeting at Muthalakulam, Kozhikode, Mar Pamplany emphasized that the Waqf issue should be viewed as a matter of social justice rather than a communal concern. He expressed opposition to any attempts to divide people in the name of Waqf.

The Archbishop stated clearly that "The church has every right to take its own stand." He added that the Christian community faces significant challenges, and their protest is a call for justice, not a communal one. He reiterated that Christians do not align themselves with any political party, and thus, their request for MP’s to support the Waqf Bill should not be viewed as one with a communal attitude.   

Mar Pamplany also voiced concerns about the ongoing delays regarding the Justice J.B. Koshy Commission Report, questioning why it has not been released. "If this delay is not an insult to the Christian community, then what is?" he asked, stressing that the community deserves its due recognition. He warned that the Christian community would be compelled to take a political stance if the report is not made public soon. 

Reflecting on the political landscape, the Archbishop suggested that political parties, who have traditionally seen Christian votes as granted, might lose support if their grievances are not addressed. He also pointed out about the ongoing wild animal attacks, highlighting that pigs that ransack farms would no longer be considered as ‘wild’ and will be dealt with accordingly, signalling his displeasure at the government's handling of such matters.

Finally, Mar Pamplany condemned the recent attacks on priests in Jabalpur, stressing that it was not just one individual who was harmed, but a blow to India’s secular values as a whole.