Govt sponsored attacks on Churches in Karnataka

[Michael Gonsalves]

Shri H.R. Bharwaj

H.E. The Governor of Karnataka

Raj Bhavan, Bangalore.

 

Your Excellency:

 

Sub: Attack on Churches in Karnataka in September 2008 and its aftermath

 

We  have great pleasure, albeit with a touch of sadness,  in enclosing the ‘Report of the People’s Tribunal Enquiry’ into the attacks on Churches in Karnataka by radical fundamentalist Hindutva forces with the backing of the Police and the local Government in September, 2008.

 

The attacks shocked the world. Global condemnation followed.  The Government of Karnataka appointed Justice B.K.  Somashekar (Retd.) to investigate the matter. From the start we were aware that he would not produce a balanced and equitable report. We refused to cooperate with his enquiry.

 

His interim report was most encouraging and mostly factual.  But his final conclusions and findings have revealed that the Hon’ble Judge was biased, prejudiced and did a complete volte face  supporting the Government, the Police and castigating  the miniscule  minority for “self-inflicted” attacks on its own places of worship ! 

 

You have already been briefed extensively about what happened. We recommend that Justice Somashekhara Commission Report be rejected in toto .  

 

We recommend that in the light of my Inquiry  following findings are established:

 

1.      The Government is culpable  in  orchestrating and encouraging a series of vindictive attacks on helpless minorities.  The then Chief Minister and the then  Home Minister supported  these illegal actions

 

2.      Four  Police Officers:

 

(i)               Mr. A.M. Prasad, IPS – the then IG Western Range, Karnataka

(ii)              Mr. Satish Naik, IPS – the then Dakshina Kannada SP

(iii)             Mr. Jayanth Shetty, the then DSP Mangalore Rural

(iv)             Mr. Ganapathy, the then Mangalore East Inspector

 

were complicit in these attacks on Churches, places of worship, helpless nuns, children and devotees ( see page 83-84).

 

3.        These officers have been exonerated by the Police Department by giving a mere warning and slaps  on their  wrists.   We recommend that they are immediately  suspended and the process of  dismissal initiated.

 

4.           In these attacks poor students, petty shop keepers and ordinary folk have been implicated and arrested. All the cases against these people should be withdrawn forthwith as promised by the Chief Minister.

 

5.           The Government had announced compensation to the various Churches  and institutions. Not a single penny has been received thus far. Action must be taken  to redress this  situation immediately.

 

6.          Important: There is a systematic targetting  of the  minorities in our State especially Christians and  Muslims who are currently bearing the burnt of the police power and brutality.   The Government may kindly  give instructions to ensure that the police  stop foisting false cases of conversions and propagation on  minorities. Each such case must be screened diligently by the area  SP who should be held accountable. For Example  last Friday’s arrest of 14 Yemeni Muslims in Bagalkot was  illegal  and orchestrated by Hindutva radicals with the support of local  subordinate police.

 

Your Excellency,  the  state of affairs in Karnataka is shocking beyond belief.  Your adamant, strident support  of minorities has been lauded nationwide.  We thank you for your stand in enforcing  constitutional guarantees and protecting the most vulnerable and helpless sectors of our society.

 

We would be grateful if immediate action is taken on my report.

 

With best wishes,

 

Yours sincerely,

Justice M.F. Saldanha (Retd.)

 

- Biji Koshi

 

Fr. Michael G.
     Jeevan Jyotee, Girij, Vasai (W), 401201, India. Mobile: 9326433487. http://bloggers.com/MichaelG, micha...@yahoo.co.in

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