Christian Council condemns 'selective targeting' of minorities

Mangalore, November 8: All India Christian Council, Karnataka Chapter (AICC) and Karnataka Missions Network has condemned 'selective targeting' of the minorities in Karnataka.

Addressing a news conference here on Monday, Justice Michael Saldanha said that this selective targeting of minority is tearing apart the social fabric of the sub continent.

Calling the attacks on churches as pre planned act and not sporadic incidents, Saldanha said that though such incidents had occurred in Gujarat, Orissa, North Eastern states, the incidents have come under control in these states. Unfortunately, such attacks started in Mangalore and continue to happen even today.

Talking about the attitude of the law enforcing authorities, Saldanha said that in 2008 Church attack, as many as 367 false cases were filed, of which 30 per cent cases were booked against innocent students who are even today appearing before the Court for no fault of theirs.

“Though a section of cases were withdrawn, it has come to light that cases booked against the culprits have been withdrawn while cases booked against the victims are still left as it is,” he said adding that though a person has been nabbed in the recent attack, one has to look beyond the obvious and try to know the invisible hands that have operated behind this person in executing the crime.

Karnataka Missions Network Chairman Walter J Maben said that the situation has gone from bad to worse and in this juncture, the community is wondering if it should still remain quite. “Whenever we ask the police about the action taken to nab the culprits in these cases of vandalism, they say action is being taken. Wonder if withdrawing cases on accused is the only action taken by them,” he said.

Narrating the state under which the smaller denominations have been functioning, he said that recently a prayer center head in Ullal was summoned by the Police to inform that they need to possess exclusive permission from the Deputy Commissioner to carry on prayer meets.

AICC Co-ordinator Anand Kumar Jogul said that State Government has been releasing lot of funds for Hindu religious centres and the heads for their services to the society. “Even we are doing service to the Society. Why are funds not released to us,” he questioned.

Komu Soudhardha Vedike General Secretary K L Ashok among others was present.

The news conference was held in the backdrop of the 'Persecuted Pastors' Conference' organised by AICC in the city on Monday.