Mangalore (Agenzia Fides) - “Good Friday is sacred for all Christians. It is the day we commemorate the Passion and Death of Jesus. The removal of Good Friday from the list of state holidays in the state of Karnataka is an act of injustice”: this was affirmed by the Karnataka Forum of Christian Associations in an official protest sent to the state government of Karnataka in southern India after it removed Good Friday from the calendar of festive bank holidays.
The Forum composed of Christians of various confessions says it fails to see the reason for the decision. In the memorandum to the state government the Forum members recall that Good Friday and Christmas have been state holidays for years and they warn that unless the Good Friday holiday is reinserted in the calendar of bank holidays the government can expect more protest.
SABAH, a lay movement active in Catholic dioceses all over Karnataka has started a letter campaign to collect signatures in all parishes to pressure the state authorities.
Last year 2003 Bihar state made Good Friday a bank holiday after a request was made by the Archbishop of Patna Archbishop Benedict John Osta with other Christian leaders
For the Federal government of India Good Friday is a bank holiday and individual states are required to absorb this federal directive in their own state calendar.
(PA) (27/2/2004 Agenzia Fides 27/2/2004 lines 22 word 298)