Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (MM/CN)
Mangalore, Sep 12: The BJP Minority Morcha defended the action of the state government against Catholic educational institutions which observed a statewide bundh, recently. The bundh was called to protest against atrocities on Christians in Orissa.
Speaking to media persons on Thursday September 11, Franklin Monteiro, convener, district BJP Minority Morcha, said that the attacks were an aftermath of the murder of Hindu religious leader Lakshmananand Swami who opposed religious conversions in Orissa. However, no specific organization has been pinpointed as the one responsible for the attacks on Christians there, he said.
Monteiro said that the Minority Morcha condemns both the murder of the Swamiji as well as the attacks on Christians, but shutting down Catholic institutions in Karnataka is nothing but promoting fundamentalism in schools. People of all faiths, religions, caste and creed, should co-exist, so as to promote peace and harmony in the country, he stressed.
Catholic institutions should not have observed the bundh as they are getting grants from the state and institutions which go against the law of the nation are open for prosecution, he cautioned.
Monteiro alleged that the protest organized against the education minister in front of circuit house on Wednesday September 10, was sponsored by the Congress with the participating activists being beneficiaries of Christian leaders and institutions. They are not real leaders of the community as they never raised their voice when rickshaw driver Lancy was murdered near Tokkottu, recently. They did not even protest when vegetable vendor Simon was murdered in Padil. They tried to lay siege to the circuit house just to please religious leaders and for their own gains, he asserted.
Corporator James D'Souza, district BJP vice-president Nitinkumar, district Minority Morcha co-convener Clifford D'Souza, and district BJP SC Morcha convener U K Srinivas, were present at the press meet.