Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bangalore (Agenzia Fides) – The Christians viciously attacked in 2008 are still victims of Hindu militants and police brutality, said Judge Michael Saldanha, now retired, presenting the new Report on anti-Christian violence in Karnataka, which he drafted for the State Governor, H.K. Bhardwaj, who represents the Federal Government of India in Karnataka (south-western India).
The State Executive, led by the nationalist party Bharatiya Janata Party, had commissioned a report on the anti-Christian violence which occurred in 2008 from Judge B.K. Somashekar who denied the involvement of Hindu extremist groups and reversed the situation: in fact, more than 330 Christians have been charged in court for causing disorder (see Fides 1/02/2011). Outraged at the blatant distortion of truth, the Christian community in Karnataka appointed Judge Saldanha with the task of undertaking an impartial investigation. After listening to more than 4,000 testimonies, the Judge drafted a new Report that re-establishes the truth about the violence (see Fides 24/02/2011).
In his meeting with the Governor, local sources tell Fides, the Judge explained his investigation, stating clearly in the Memorandum delivered, that “politicians such as the Prime Minister and Minister for the Interior with the power of the State, orchestrated and encouraged a massive series of attacks against defenceless minorities.” Even some police officers (whom the court indicates first and last name) “were complicit in the attacks on sisters, women and children”
The Judge informed Governor Bhardwaj that “the local government had promised compensation to the victims but, after three years on from the incidents, no Christian institution has received anything.” Finally Saldanha reminded the Governor that “even today, Christians and other religious minorities are victims of Hindu extremist groups and police brutality.” For this reason he demands that the Federal Government issue instructions to police “that they stop registering false complaints against Christians,” thereby ensuring “the constitutional guarantees of protection for religious minorities in India.”
Local sources of Fides, illustrating the situation in Karnataka, explain: “The State, ruled by the BJP, has become a caste state, corrupt and fundamentalist. Hindu extremists in Karnataka have enormous power: they are the government. They have infiltrated the judicial system, the bureaucracy and police.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides 10/3/2011)
