Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)
 
Bangalore, Jul 8: Karnataka State Minorities Commission chairman, Khusro Quraishi, called on the president of the Karnataka Region Bishops Council, Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore at his residence here on Tuesday July 7.

"The Commission is making every effort to ensure that the minorities get access to the benefits available to them," Quraishi said.  He expressed dismay over the fact that the Christians have not been availing the resources and finances available to them, in spite of notifications being publicized through the media. Reacting to Quraishi's statement, the Archbishop pointed out that the department officials make the procedures too difficult and arduous, whenever Christian beneficiaries approach them for the grants. In such situations, Christians get frustrated and tend to abstain from approaching the Commission or Minorities Corporation, he added.  The Archbishop also drew reference to the government’s ‘Aradhane’ scheme that supports construction of religious places.  He said that the officials make it difficult for the applicants when Christians approach them and the officials even indicate that without a bribe, grants are not sanctioned.  "It sounds so absurd that one has to pay a bribe to get what is rightfully theirs.  Giving a bribe is against the spirit of our Faith," Archbishop Moras told Quraishi. 

In his 25-minute meeting with the Archbishop, Quraishi expressed concern over the communal tensions between the two religious communities that rocked Mysore city during the previous week.  Quraishi said, "It is important that we all remain together and promote peace," to which Archbishop Moras said, "The Christian community has always been peaceful and fostered peace.  We have never reacted with violence. Our peaceful nature has often been taken advantage of, but we will continue to respond with peaceful protests". 

The Archbishop also expressed displeasure over the manner in which Justice Somashekhar Commission has been handling the inquiry on attacks against churches in Karnataka. "The posse of questions regarding the Holy Bible, raised by the Commission tantamount to actually questioning the very authenticity and validity of the Holy Bible," the Archbishop said. He added that this was not what the Church expected from the Commission.  Expressing concern over the delay in rendering Justice to the Church, he commented that justice delayed is justice denied.

Fr Faustine Lobo, PRO, Karnataka Region Bishops Council and Fr Adolf Washington, PRO, Bangalore Archdiocese, were present for the 25-minute meeting.  
 
Archbishop Bernard Moras is the president of the Karnataka Region Bishops Council representing 11 dioceses and also the president of the Karnataka United Christians Forum for Human Rights, a forum of Christians from various denominations, including the Methodist, CSI Bishops and Catholic Archbihsop of Bangalore.