Describing Ramesh’s statement as remarks against the Pope and Christians around the world, Sajan K George, president of the Bangalore-based Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), said the remarks have deeply offended religious sentiment.
“The practice of wearing a traditional coloured gown during a convocation ceremony at any university is a barbaric colonial practice. Why can’t we wear simple dress instead of these gowns,” Ramesh said at the seventh convocation ceremony of the Indian Institute of Forest Management in Bhopal on Friday.
George said: “The GCIC strongly condemns such insensitive remarks by the honourable minister. We are all the more concerned that the minister has chosen Bhopal, the epicentre of persecution against Christians in India to demean the Pope.
“The minister spoke with utter irresponsibility and with lack of respect for the Pope and with a display of incredible cynicism towards the church and millions of people around the world.
“The GCIC demands from him an unconditional apology for such insensitive remarks.”
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