Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bangalore (Agenzia Fides) – Praise from Hindu militant fundamentalists, strong protests from Christian leaders: these are the reactions recorded by Fides after the publication of the Report on anti-Christian violence that occurred in the state of Karnataka in 2008.
The preparation of the Report was entrusted to a Commission headed up by retired judge B.K. Somasekhara. The document absolves the Government and civil administration from charges of complicity in the violence and said that the attacks were initiated by individuals and not by organized movements. In fact, even the Hindu fundamentalist organizations were cleared. In addition, the report admits to cases of conversions “not necessarily obtained by fraud or coercion,” but “induced by Christians.”
The “Bajrang Dal”, one of the most violent Hindu fundamentalist associations, welcomed these conclusions, inviting the State Government, in the hands of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, to approve an anti-conversion legislation as soon as possible.
Instead, the Christians of Karnataka complain that “the Report to the government has failed to indicate any solutions and measures to combat the organised groups responsible for attacks on churches,” says an official note sent to Fides from the Diocese of Mangalore, one of the largest in Karnataka. The report “does not satisfy the Christian community in any way” in that it offers contradictory elements, and “does not help to identify the culprits.”
Other leaders and associations like the Christian Secular Forum (CSF) define the document as “dishonest and full of prejudices”, because, they explain to Fides, “it does not specify what actions should be taken against the police,” who failed to prevent the violence. Even “the suggestion to insitute special officers for religious issues is impracticable,” they said.
In 2008, in a wave of anti-Christian violence, over 113 attacks in 29 districts were recorded in Karnataka. And in the last two years, note our sources, there were another 138 attacks on people, places or Christian institutions. The assaults are perpetrated by militants from Hindu extremist groups, who go unpunished because they are protected by the nationalist government of Karnataka. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 1/2/2011)
