Kerala Jesuits reject remarks on priest’s support for NEET protest

Kochi, August 3, 2026: The Kerala Jesuits have rejected remarks by Dr. K. S. Radhakrishnan against Jesuit priest Fr. M. K. George over his article supporting student protests against alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.

In a statement, the Kerala Jesuits’ Public Relations Department described the remarks as “deeply regrettable and motivated by malice” and accused Dr. Radhakrishnan of attempting to turn a student-related issue into a religious controversy.

The Jesuits said criticism of Fr. George and the community was aimed at diverting attention from concerns over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and their impact on students.

The statement also rejected what it called “baseless conspiracy theories” allegedly advanced by Dr. Radhakrishnan on a YouTube channel. It took particular exception to references to the CIA, former FBI director J. Edgar Hoover and American evangelist Billy Graham in connection with allegations that the Jantar Mantar protest had been organised at the direction of international Christian missionaries.

The Jesuits also denied allegations that the order was working to turn India into a Christian nation or receiving international funding to support extremist activities in Maoist-affected areas such as Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. The statement termed such claims “shocking and irresponsible”.

According to the Jesuits, Dr. Radhakrishnan had interpreted Fr. George’s article through what it described as an “ideological lens of the RSS and the extreme right wing”. It also questioned his current position on the Church and the Jesuit order, citing his earlier association with Catholic institutions.

The statement said Dr. Radhakrishnan had previously addressed Catholic forums and served as a visiting lecturer at seminaries. It also referred to his earlier appreciation of the scholarship of Jesuit thinker Fr. John Vattanky.

Defending Fr. George, the Jesuits cited his previous service as principal of Loyola College, Thiruvananthapuram, and as Jesuit provincial in Kerala. It questioned the basis for describing him as a “spokesperson for anti-national activities”.

The priest’s support for the Jantar Mantar protest, the statement said, was intended to express solidarity with students affected by alleged examination irregularities and with families of those who had died. It rejected the suggestion that those supporting the protest could be branded “anti-national”.

The Jesuits also highlighted their contribution to education and scholarship in India, citing institutions and figures associated with the order. The statement said the Jesuit educational network includes six universities, 68 colleges and more than 300 schools, and noted that former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor and former Union Minister Arun Jaitley studied in Jesuit institutions.

It also cited the contributions of Jesuit scholars and missionaries such as Fr. Jerome D’Souza, Arnos Pathiri, Constantine Beschi, Robert de Nobili and Kamil Bulke to Indian education, culture and languages.

“For Jesuits, the struggle for justice is not merely a slogan; it is a way of life,” the statement said, describing the “option for the poor” as a longstanding priority of the order’s mission.

The statement concluded by warning against what it called “pseudo-observations and baseless ideological positions”, arguing that claims unsupported by evidence could distort public debate and undermine democratic processes.

News Credits: Deepika