Mangalore: Unified Voice Raised Against Church Attacks, Atrocities on Minorities
 
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
 
Mangalore, Feb 10: A massive protest rally organized jointly by as many as 24 like-minded organizations to condemn attacks on churches and atrocity against minorities was held on Friday February 10.
 
The rally was taken from Jyothi Circle to deputy commissioner's office, where a protest meet was held at 4 pm.

Addressing the protestors, Abdul Razaq, state committee member of Popular Front of India said that it is evident that wherever BJP government existed, minority community people had been targeted in different ways. "BJP from the day it came to power has been indulging in land scams and mining scam, and now ministers viewing blue film have put the people of this state in disgrace. Chief minister Sadananda Gowda should resign from his post and the BJP-led state government should be dissolved by the governor," he urged.

Another speaker of the day, renowned thinker Shiva Sunder, said that coastal districts are known for their rich culture. "There is no such case elsewhere in country wherein ministers have indulged in watching a porn video inside the assembly house. Indeed, people who voted for BJP themselves have understood BJP's true colours," he said and condemned the remark of BJP state president Eshwarappa who brushed aside the ministers' act and said it was not a crime.

"The BJP is playing 'verbal tactics' through which it is defending its every wrong move, he rued, and questioned the silence of the state government even after Sri Rama Sene leader Pramod Muthalik produced all relevant documents claming that RSS was involved in Sindhagi Pakistan flag hoisting incident. "The religious faith of Hindus is being misused by the BJP which is favouring only the upper castes," he lamented and urged the state government to implement the proposed Communal and Targeted Violence Bill for restoring communal harmony in the state and coastal districts in particular.
 
Human rights activist Prof Nagari Bavaiah said that people should come forward to raise their voice against atrocity on the minority community. "Only then can the real meaning of democracy be understood by all," he said.
 
Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh central executive president Walter Cyril Pinto said that it is the right time for the people of this state to demand their constitutional rights.
 
In a memorandum submitted to the CM and to the chairman of National Minorities Commission, New Delhi through the DC, protestors placed demands like implementation of PM’s 15-point programme to restore communal harmony, arrest of Dr Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat and other demands pertaining to the issue of communal harmony in the coastal region. About a thousand people participated in the rally and protest meet.

K L Ashok, convener, Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike, Ali Hasan, president, Mangalore central committee, Mallikarjunaiah, P B D’Sa, Denis D’Silva among others were present.
 
Organizations like Catholic Sabha, Mangalore, Karnataka United Churches Forum for Human Rights, Karnataka Missions Network (Coastal Zone) Mangalore, Federation of Christian churches and organizations, Bharathiya Chraista Okkoota, Global Council of Indian Christians, Protestant Christian welfare association, Karnataka Komu Souhardha Vedike, DK, Peoples’ Union for Civil Liberties, DK, PFI, Mangalore Central Committee, Muslim Varthakara Sangha, Tulunadu Mansa Samaja Seva Sangha, Youth Wing, Mangalore, DK Auto Drivers’ Association, Bandhavya, National Confederation of Human Rights Organizations, Campus Front of India, Samaja Parivarthana Vedike, Mangalore Citizen’s Association, Karnataka Chraista Sangha Samsthegala Antharastriya Okkoota, Ahinda Mangalore, All India Christian Council, Indian Christian Youth Movement took part in the protest.