BHOPAL : Archbishop Leo Cornelio, while interacting with the media here on Monday said, “Intolerance is gaining momentum in India and so is moral policing. Government should crack down on the self-appointed custodians of public morality, who are creating disharmony in society. But unfortunately, the government is hesitating in reining them in”.
He said, “If anyone even as much as talks about intolerance, he or she is targeted, mocked at and humiliated. This is patently wrong as everyone has the freedom of expression. If anyone is feeling unsafe in the country, he can and should raise his voice. It is good that PM Narendra Modi, who was earlier mum on intolerance, has come to realise the sensitiveness and importance of the issue”
The Archbishop, citing the example of Bollywood actor Aamir Khan’s wife, said, “If she is feeling unsafe in India, she has every right to express her views and to place her apprehensions before the government. There is nothing wrong in it.”
Replying to a question on the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, she said, “Such disputes should be resolved through legal means”. He was asked about the ongoing carving of stones in Ayodhya for construction of a temple on the disputed land.
In reply to a question about government’s plan to incorporate the Hindu religious book Gita in school syllabi, the top priest said, “A textbook covering all religions should be included in the syllabi to inculcate discipline among the youth. Gita is a great book but so are Bible, Quran and other religious books.”
The Archbishop denied that the missionary schools were churning out westernised students. “It is the Bollywood that is responsible for the spread of western culture. Students watch movies and try to ape their characters. Our main objective is to provide a balanced education, based on the concept of global village.”
