Sun Oct 12 13:56:16 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
The Catholic Congress, the lay organization of the Syro-Malabar Church, is launching a “Rights Protection March” from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, starting October 13, 2025. Led by Rajeev Kochuparambil, the march aims to address issues ignored by political parties and governments, culminating in a sit-in at the Secretariat on October 24. Prominent clergy will participate and address gatherings along the route. The march highlights demands like safeguarding secularism, implementing the J.B. Koshy Commission report, addressing human-wildlife conflicts, ensuring fair agricultural prices, and ending neglect in education and minority welfare. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to increase Catholic representation in Kerala’s public and political life and aligns with a recent call by the KCBC for young Christians to engage in politics, especially as local body elections approach.
**News Article:**
**Kerala Catholic Congress Launches ‘Rights Protection March’ to Boost Political Presence**
**KOTTAYAM, October 12, 2025** – In a bid to strengthen the political voice of the Catholic community in Kerala, the Catholic Congress, the official lay organization of the Syro-Malabar Church, announced the launch of a major “Rights Protection March” commencing Monday, October 13th. The march will begin in Kasaragod and will culminate with a sit-in protest at the State Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on October 24th.
Led by Catholic Congress global president Rajeev Kochuparambil and inaugurated by Archbishop Joseph Pamplany, the march aims to draw attention to a range of public and community issues that the organization feels have been neglected by political parties and the state government. Bishop Legate Remigius Inchananiyil will officially flag off the event in Panathur, Kasaragod.
“This march is about ensuring that the voices of our community are heard,” said a spokesperson for the Catholic Congress. “We have a responsibility to advocate for policies that protect our rights and address the challenges we face.”
Throughout the journey, prominent figures from the Syro-Malabar Church, including Major Archbishop Rafael Thattil and Archbishops Andrews Thazhath and Thomas Tharayil, will address participants at various rallies held in key towns across Kerala.
The march’s core demands include the safeguarding of secularism and the Indian Constitution, the implementation of the J.B. Koshy Commission report, and proactive solutions to address human-wildlife conflicts. Other key issues being highlighted include fair prices for agricultural products, the elimination of neglect in education and minority welfare sectors, addressing restrictions on teacher appointments under disability reservation, EWS reservation, the stray dog menace, amendments to the Land Assignment Act, and addressing attacks on minority communities.
Sources within the Church indicate that the march is part of a broader strategy to increase Catholic representation in Kerala’s public and political sphere, particularly in central Travancore and high-range settlements of north Malabar. This move coincides with the Church’s efforts to field a greater number of community members in upcoming local body elections and follows a recent call by the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) encouraging young Christians to actively engage in politics.
The success of the “Rights Protection March” is expected to significantly influence the political landscape of Kerala in the coming months, particularly as the state prepares for crucial local elections.
First Piper 