KOCHI: The protest demanding the arrest of Jalandhar bishop Franco Mulakkal , who has been accused of raping a nun, is likely to be extended at least till next Wednesday-the day when the cops have summoned him for a second round of interrogation.The protest launched by the Joint Christian Council has been brought under an umbrella organisation, Save Our Sisters (SOS), with Catholic priest Father Augustine Vattoli as its coordinator to widen the campaign's reach.The organizers have decided to dedicate a day each for separate sections of the society who come forward to join the protest. Thursday was dedicated for woman solidarity with several women's rights activists and women leaders reaching the venue offering their support. Writer Sarah Joseph, Congress leader Shanimol Usman, dubbing artist Bhagyalakshmi, Sr Jessy Kurian, former member of the commission for Minority Educational Institutions were among those who attended the protest meet.Editor of Indian Currents, a magazine run under the patronage of the Capuchins of Krist Jyoti Province of North India, Father Suresh Mathew also addressed the gathering."I became a priest 17 years ago and it's the first time that I have come to address a street rally. My request to the government is that if you have evidence, please don't hesitate to arrest the bishop. You will not lose any vote from the Christian community," said father Suresh."I am not a rebel but a vicar and I love the Church. I am struggling to answer my parishioners who have been questioning me about the issue. I need to know the truth," said the priest.He said he was saddened by the statement issued by the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council . "I want to tell them that they should revisit the classes where they were taught the Book of Prophets. I was taught that one should stand for justice. Christ was crucified because he spoke the truth. If he had just performed the rituals like the rest of the priests back then he would never have been crucified," the priest said.Sister Jessy Kurian said the bishop should be removed while Sarah Joseph said it was evident that the police were under political influence. "The police seem to be thinking that that they could just call up the bishop and let him go after some chit-chat," Joseph said adding that it was the bishop who has been tarnishing the Church and not the nuns.Protest held in Kottayam: In Kottayam too, various organizations and people from different walks of life came together to protest the delay in arresting the bishop. Inaugurating the protest at Gandhi Square , Yuhanon Ramban of Save Our Sisters Action Council said the nun was denied justice and that even an MLA insulted her.She was abandoned by the church leadership and pointed out that the victims of sexual abuse cases in the church never get justice.

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