by Nirmala Carvalho

The cardinal rejects criticism from a splinter group in Mumbai municipality, members of the nationalist Sena-BJP alliance. Nationalists accuse the schools of not to singing the anthem and of preventing the celebration of Hindu festivals and customs. Archbishop of Mumbai: we nurture “diversity and pluralism" to build the nation.

Mumbai (AsiaNews) – “All our Christian institutions are patriotic and no one can lecture us about patriotism. All our Christian Schools inculcate the values of patriotism and religious harmony. [...] and through the apostolate of education, we are serving the country”.  Thus responds Cardinal Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Mumbai and president of the Episcopal conference, to the municipality’s criticisms of the methods of teaching in Christian schools of the metropolis led by an alliance between BJP and Shiv Sena.

The "saffron" alliance formed by the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - both branded Hindu nationalist - who lead the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is targeting Christian schools in Mumbai. The Archdiocese Department for Education (ADE) groups together 150 schools founded and led by missionaries, some of which are subsidized by the state. In an attempt to promote “Hindu ideology," the Sena-BJP alliance has launched a campaign against Christian institutions which benefit from public funds, because they "preach the Christian faith and prevent some typical practices of Hinduism".  These would include a ban on wearing decorations on the forehead, bracelets and temporary tattoos (mehendi), the failure to celebrate some Hindu festivals and the obligation to sing the national anthem.

Interviewed by AsiaNews, Cardinal Gracias, Archbishop of Mumbai, rejects the allegations "coming from a handful of officials in the municipality" and underlined "the values of patriotism and religious harmony" that are inculcated in the students of the Christian Schools. "Our Christian institutions - says the president of the Episcopal conference - are run according to the Indian Constitution and have a Christian ethos and we absolutely cannot water down the fact that we are a Christian institution".  Through our Apostolate of Education, resumed the cardinal, we are “serving the country.  It “is inclusive, respectful of all religions and importantly we have a code which respects all religions and students of every religious belief.  All are schools are Models of  Integration”.

Cardinal Gracias points out that some groups are fed by fundamentalist ideologies of "creating a climate which" threatens peace and peaceful coexistence. "The cardinal also confirmed that Christian schools are committed to promoting "diversity and pluralism" as elements that can enrich India, to contribute to "nation building" and "the welfare of society". Among the many activities, Cardinal Gracias recalls the seminars organized in 2009, "Year of peace and harmony", during which he revealed measures to "combat extremism and fundamentalism”.

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