Achuthanandan flays Cardinals statement

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan has said that if Cardinal Mar George Alencherry had  made a statement in Rome which is being attributed to him on the Italian ship firing incident, it should be condemned. “His statement is like an open statement that he is not with those who have been killed in the firing but with the killers. The Cardinal’s statement amounts to covertly justifying the firing from the ship” VS  said. “From where did the Cardinal get the information that the Opposition in the state was eying the Piravom by-election by saying Western forces and American hegemony?”  he asked. “It is unfortunate for the Cardinal to make such a statement. “The Cardinal has stated that he had talked to the ministers  belonging to the Catholic community in the presence of Union Minister K V Thomas. What is the meaning of the statement? Achuthanandan asked. The Opposition leader said the Cardinal had not asked for proper investigation and punishing the guilty or sufficient compensation for the victims of the firing while he was in Italy.