Permission sought to start Catholic varsity

KOCHI: The Syro-Malabar Church Laity Commission chairman Bishop Mar Mathew Arakkal and secretary V C Sebastian have submitted a memorandum to Union Government seeking permission to establish a Catholic University in the name of St Thomas and government subsidy for the holy land pilgrimage.The memorandum was handed over to the Union Minister for Minority Affairs Salman Khurshid the other day.The Andhra Pradesh government is providing subsidy for the pilgrimage to the holy land.The Muslim community enjoys the backing of government for Haj pilgrimage. Similarly Christians also deserve government support, stated in the memorandum.