Evangelists created tension in Karnataka: Judicial panel

Evangelists created tension in Karnataka: Judicial panel

http://www.dailypioneer.com/313953/Evangelists-created-tension-in-Karnataka-Judicial-panel.html

Saturday, January 29, 2011  Kestur Vasuki | Bangalore

'BJP had no role in church attacks'

The one-man judicial commission that probed the 2008 attacks on
churches in Karnataka has given a clean chit to the BS Yeddyurappa
Government and Sangh Parivar.

It felt that circulation of derogatory literature with "insulting
attitude" against Hindus and issues of conversion by a few
organisations and "self-styled pastors" were provocations behind the
attacks.

The panel gave the clean chit to Roman Catholic churches too, saying
they did not engage in any conversion activity.

Absolving the State Government and police of any role, the Justice BK
Somasekara Commission said, "There is no basis for the apprehension of
Christian petitioners that BJP, Sangh Parivar and the State
Government, directly or indirectly, were involved in the attacks."

"The attacks were done by misguided fundamentalists of defined or
undefined groups or organisations against Christians and Christianity.
The attackers mistakenly presumed that they would be protected by the
party in power," the report added.

Disagreeing with the findings of the report, Bangalore vicar general
Archdiocese S Jagayanathan said the probe report had not done justice
to the minority community by not naming the culprits.

"The commission has let down the Christian community. The entire
Christian community is disappointed and feel the report is unfair,"
the vicar general said. The clean chit to the ruling BJP comes at the
time when the Chief Minister is battling with corruption and nepotism
charges.

In a significant reference, the commission in its highlights states
that there were clear indications of conversions attempts in seven
districts by a few organisations and "self-appointed pastors" with
"inducements".

"There are clear indications of conversions to Christianity in the
districts of Bangalore, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Bellary, Davanagere,
Chikkamgaluru and Udupi by a few organisations and self-appointed
pastors with the help of unaccounted funds from the foreign country,"
the report states.

It seeks legislation to regulate Christian places of worship, like
that of Hindus and Muslims under Article 25 of the Constitution.

"The demand of Hindus for a suitable legislation to prevent practices
detrimental to the interests of their religion is justified. The
suggestion of the Government advocates, police and Hindu leaders to
bring Christian places of worship under the ambit of legislations that
are applicable to religious places of Hindus and Muslims is
well-founded and accepted," the report states.

In September 2008, churches were vandalised in different parts of
Karnataka — Mangalore, Udupi, Kolar, and Bellary. Some outfits linked
to the BJP and the RSS had been accused of carrying out the attacks.

The panel, however, was critical of police and civil administration
for not treating the Christians who protested against the attacks
sympathetically. The panel said it had received 1,500 petitions and
examined over 800 people.

The commission noted the Catholic Church did not indulge in
conversions, except during marriages or when people voluntarily sought
to become Catholics. However, the commission noted "clear indications
of conversions to Christianity" in several districts by a few
organisations and "self-appointed" pastors.

The report said the attacks "deeply affected" relations between
Christians and Hindus who now suspect each other. It rejected the
demand of some Hindu groups to ban Christian literatures.

Karnataka Home Minister R Ashoka told the media that the Government
will look into the suggestions given by the commission and take
suitable actions.

Meanwhile, the Congress rejected the report and said it was biased.
Talking to the media, Karnataka Congress chief G Parameshwara said the
party can't accept the report. However he said the party will decide
its next course of action after going through the report.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



--
India was the richest country on earth till the British invasion in
the 17th century.

Ancient Indian achievements
http://www.astrojyoti.com/historicindianfirsts.htm

--
Palash Biswas
Pl Read:
http://nandigramunited-banga.blogspot.com/