Author: Kestur Vasuki
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: January 29, 2011
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/313953/Evangelists-created-tension-in-Karnataka-Judicial-panel.html
'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.
