Kochi: The pressure mounted by the Kerala Catholic Bishop Council through their serious objections over the Kerala Lalita Kala Academy Award given to cartoonist Subash KK who created an artwork poking fun at the accused rapist Bishop Franco has borne fruit as the Kerala government has decided to withdraw the award.
The cartoon shows Bishop Franco as a cock, propped up by MLA PC George
The nuns are seeing fleeing the scene in the cartoon. PC George is holding up Bishop Franco while standing on a police cap.
The picture also shows woman’s underwear drawn in the bishop’s staff that Franco carries. And right above the cartoon is written, ‘Vishwasam rakshati’, which translates to ‘your faith will save you’.
A media statement by Varghese Vallikat, the spokesperson of KCBC, stated, “In the name of condemning Bishop Franco, the cartoonist has insulted Christianity by drawing an objectionable picture on the Good Shepherd symbol”
Bishop Franco Mulakkal is the first Indian Bishop to have been arrested on accusations of raping and sodomising a 44-year old nun repeatedly. He was released on interim bail.
The Kerala Police have filed a chargesheet in the court and have charged Bishop Franco Mulakkal with rape, sodomy and illegal confinement.
