Media Release

Bengaluru, Mar 20: Christian leaders in the state, including MLAs, MLCs and former MLAs on Friday March 20 staged a protest near the Mahatma Gandhi statue at Race Course Road here against the recent incients of atrocities against their community, particularly the attack on churches and gang-rape of a Christian nun in Kolkata.

They also submitted a memorandum addressed to the President of India through the governor of Karnataka, condemning the attacks on religious places and atrocities against the Christian community and demanding CBI enquiry to find out persons involved in the incidents.

The memorandum lists the following cases:

1. Inflammatory speeches made and derogatory words used about the Christian community by the parliamentarians like Sakshi Maharaj, Sadhvi etc.
2. The inhuman brutalizing and rape of a 71 years old Christian nun in west Bengal.
3. Churches attacked in Haryana, especially in Hissar
4. At least 6 churches attacked in Delhi.
5. Stone throwing on churches at Ullal, Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka.
6. Kidnapping and threatening of Christian nuns in Mangalore.
7. RSS leader Mohan Bhagwat’s insensitive remark on Mother Teresa’s charitable work attaching motive of conversion to the service that she rendered.
8. The BJP leader Dr Subramanian Swamy’s statement that the churches and mosques are not holy places, only buildings. So, demolish them.
9. The attempt of so called “Ghar wapsi” is straining the harmonious relationship that is enjoyed by people of all walks of life.
10. The principals of some of the Christian schools in Chattisgarh have been asked to furnish details about Holy Cross and other religious articles displayed in their institutions.

The memorandum states that from the past six months, there have been repeated incidents of atrocities against the Christian community and the BJP-led government at the centre has taken no action to stop such incidents, and is instead 'encouraging' them. "The union government has to take suitable action on these incidents and call for a report on atrocities on Christian minorities around the country. Action should be taken against officials who fail to protect minorities," the memorandum states.

"All the states should be directed to protect the Constitutional rights of the Christian community. Action should be taken against Dr Subramanian Swamy and RSS leader Mohan Bhagwat who call minorities 'anti-national'. Suitable action should be taken on various incidents of atrocities and culprits should be punished, and the government should ensure that such incidents do not repeat in future. Also, minority educational institutions should be given security and action should be taken against those who stop Christian missionaries from propogating their religion," the protestors urged the President in the memorandum.

They also welcomed the CBI enquiry into the nun gang-rape case in West Bengal and urged that CBI probe should be ordered into all other cases of atrocities against minorities as well.

They also submitted a memorandum to chief minister Siddaramaiah, which states, "It is with great pain and disappointment we wish to bring to your kind notice the happenings of continuous attacks on the Christian community in India in the past ten months. The union government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party has not taken any steps to stop the attacks on several churches and the Christian community. On the contrary, the BJP government is indirectly supporting the atrocities and attacks on Christian community either directly through some of the members of parliament or through their collaborators. Hence, we request you to take cognizance of this matter and direct suitable action and steps in this regard."

The statement continues, "The Christian community is peace loving and has contributed a lot for the cause of nation building especially, in the field of education, health and development. Minority rights of the Christians are not protected. Christian people are projected as 'anti-nationals'. Leave alone recognizing their contribution to the nation, their rights to exist are also threatened.”

"Hence, we are humbly praying for the protection of the rights of the Christian community and their places of worship. We only pray that the rights of every citizen are to be protected. We also pray to identify and punish those who are playing the divisive politics and the culprits indulging in various crimes against the churches and minorities by way of demanding CBI enquiry to find out the person behind the actual culprits. In this regard we welcome West Bengal government decisions to handing over the rape cases to CBI," the memorandum states.

The memorandum has been signed by MLC Ivan D’Souza, MLA J R Lobo, MLC T John, MLA Vinesha Nero, Dr J Alexander, IAS, Dr H T Sangiliana, IPS, F T R Colaco, retd IPS, David Simeon, former chairman, Karnataka Legislative Council, Rev Abraham Varghese, senior pastor of Bethel AG church, Hebbal Bangalore, Agnel Rajendran, president, Karnataka Progressive Christian Forum, Victor Edward D’Souza, chairman of Federation of Konkani Catholic Associations, Ida Irene Sequeira, president, KONCAB and Richard Sequeira, president, MKCK Bengaluru.