From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Dec 24: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah joined Archbishop Dr Bernard Moras in roundly condemning the SanghParivar mooted proposals on bringing a "selective anti-conversion law" and the NarendraModi regime’s moves on observing "Good Governance Day" on Christmas Day, which is celebrated universally as a festival of joy, peace and love.

Participating in the pre-Christmas get together organised by the Archdiocese of Bengaluru under the dynamic leadership of Archbishop Moras, who is also the President of the Karnataka Region Catholic Bishops’ Council (KRCBC) and Karnataka United Christians’ Forum for Human Rights (KUCFHR), the Chief Minister declared: "India is a secular country. Freedom to practise and propagate faith is a Constitutionally guaranteed right. There can be no compromise on the secular values, ethos and principles of the country."

Adhering the Constitutional rights and the country’s secular values enshrined by the framers of the Constitution, which included stalwarts like Dr B R Ambedkar, should not be construed as appeasement to any one community or religion much less be dubbed as vote-bank politics, he said and asserted that the Congress party would never allow any attempts to dilute or abrogate the Constitution in any form.

The Chief Minister, who was accompanied by Home Minister K J George and Information, Haj and Infrastructure Minister R RoshanBaig, joined the Archbishop of Bengaluru in cutting the Christmas cake after Archbishop ceremoniously placed the statue of the new-born babe of Jesus Christ in the Crib tastefully prepared the St Germains High School, said it was wrong to target any particular community, caste or religion for conversion, when one is free to opt for any religion. Any forcible conversions or those induced by allurements can always be dealt with under the law, he said making it clear that nobody chooses their religion before birth.

"Birth Accidental, We Don’t Choose Our Religions"

"I am a Hindu because my parents are Hindus while my colleague RoshanBaig or K J George are Muslims or Christians because they are born into their respective families and in the same way Archbishop Moras happens to be a Catholic because he is born in a Catholic family," he said and pointed out that the Constitution allowed people the freedom to profess and propagate their faith.

"It is wrong to divide human beings into narrow caste, religious or communal barriers. It is our bounden duty to be good human beings," he said.

Endorsing the views of the Archbishop Moras on the NarendraModi Government’s moves on observing the day of Christmas festival on December 25 as "Good Governnance Day,"Siddaramaiahridiculed the idea of singling out a particular day, which is celebrated throughout the world as a day of peace, joy and love by all people and not just Christians.

"What About Good Governance on Other Days?"

The Chief Minister sarcastically asked: "Why observe Good Governance Day only on one day and that too on a Christmas Day? What about all the 365 days in a year? Can Good Governance be forgotten during rest of the year? The mandate for the (BJP) Government is for a period of five years and Good Governance can never be ignored."

Siddaramaiah criticised the Modi regime for their blatant attempts to hurt the religious sentiments of one community and said such moves smacked of sinister designs and the motives will always be suspect in the eyes of all people irrespective of the logic or justification presented.

Archbishop Moras, in his address, made it clear that "all of us are against forceful conversions," and wondered: "if persons, on their own free will, wish to embrace any religion of their choice, how can we call or label it as fraudulent conversion?"

"Why the U-Turn Now?"

"We strongly oppose any such move tooth and nail to safeguard the secular fabric of our nation. If we are not making our opinions known to others, especially those in power, the anti-conversion bill will be forced upon us. The present Central Government leaders very clearly mentioned in their election manifestos that they would preserve the secular nature of our nation if they came to power. But why they are making an u-turn now?," he asked and warned that the Government was bent upon forcibly introducing anti-conversion law and create communal tension and polarisation of the entire country.

Without naming any religion, the Archbishop asked: "Are not the religious heads of other religions propagating their religious tenets to the people here and abroad and make them embrace the religion they propagate? What explanation do they wish to give for it?"

In a pointed reference to Prime Minister NarendraModi’s declaration of observing December 25 as "Good Governance Day," the Archbishop asked why the Christmas Day was chosen even though "it (the idea of Good Governance) is a good move."

"Normally we celebrate December 25 as a Universal Day of Peace, Joy and Love. These aspects of Christmas have to be highlighted and all have to be encouraged to become ambassadors of these divine gifts," he said pointing out that the style of functioning of Jesus Christ must be remembered for good governance as he was an example for all.

"Jesus is model of Good Governance"

"Yes, he (Jesus Christ) is the Greatest Leader and the CEO of all time and he is our role model, an inspiration to the administrators, especially those holding public office. His style of administration was done with love, acceptance, openness, respect, mutual trust, simplicity, sacrifice, accountability and transparency. All these qualities are very essential for all those who are called to serve the public," he said.

"Today, I am happy to mention that our Christian organisations are following the teachings of Jesus Christ and they are engaged in good governance," the Archbishop said adding: "My message to all of you is: Let us shun quest for popularity, recognition, worldly wealth, pomp and glory and celebrate Christmas with simplicity, holiness and renunciation of all desires. May we see God in the needy and the poor and reach out his love to them."

Earlier, Home Minister K J George and Information, Haj and Infrastructure Development Minister RoshanBaig and former minister and chief secretary J Alexander spoke. Bengaluru City Police Commissioner M N Reddy, Joint Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar, DGP Fire Services Om Prakash, Judge John Michael D’Cunha, former MLA Ivan Negli and several senior police and government officials attended the Christmas get-together. Msgr C Francis welcomed the gathering. FrMahendran, Secretary to the Archbishop, proposed a vote of thanks.