Metropolitan Mar Yulios urges faithful in Gujarat to vote for capable candidates with character, integrity
10/11/2012
Indian Malankara Orthodox Church
Liju Cherian
AHMEDABAD, India: With important Assembly elections in Gujarat scheduled to take place in two phases on December 13 and 17, HG Pulikkottil Geevarghese Mar Yulios, Metropolitan of Ahmedabad Diocese, has issued an important Bull reminding the Indian Orthodox faithful on the rights and duties of every citizen above the age of 18 years to exercise his or her franchise in the right manner.
Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Yulios has urged the faithful in Gujarat to honestly participate in the democratic process of electing their own government.
Emphasising the apolitical role of the church, the Metropolitan notes that it is an affirmation about the wielder of power or the ‘Adhinayaka’ which relates to the great aggregation of our people as a whole nation, whom Rabindranath Tagore immortalised in his National Anthem as the ‘Jana Gana’.
“We should feel grateful to be the citizens of this great sovereign socialist secular democratic Republic, where an individual, be he ever so high, the Constitution and the laws made by the people remain higher than him, where the executive remains accountable to the legislature,” His Grace notes.
The Metropolitan recalled about the remnants of Christianity which existed in Gujarat during the early century. “We are a true National Church with indigenised cultural heritage, spiritual ethos and esteemed civic sense.”
Mar Yulios has extorted the faithful to follow the principles of Dr Rajendra Prasad, President of the Constituent Assembly, to cast their franchise and encourage others to vote and elect capable men and women of character and integrity, dedicated singularly to the welfare of the people.
The Bull No 72/2012 dated November 20, 2012 was issued from the Diocesan Head Quarters at St Thomas Bishop’s House, Naroda, Ahmedabad. The Metropolitan however will not be able to exercise his franchise in Gujarat this time.
Ahmedabad Diocese presently consists of 35 parishes and congregations, situated in the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Sultanate of Oman and Republic of Yemen in the Arabian Gulf.
Source:
Liju Cherian
