Udupi: Protest Rally Held against Justice Somashekar Report
by Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (VA)
Udupi, Feb 13: The International Federation of Karnataka Christian Associations (IFKCA), Bangalore, Udupi and Indian Catholic Organization jointly organized a Protest Rally on Saturday February 12 opposing the ‘Justice Somashekar Report’ regarding church attacks at several places in state.
The protest was organized with support from Komu Souharda Vedike, Udupi, District Minorities Committee, Karnataka Dalitha Sagarsha Vedike Udupi, Catholic Sabha, ICYM and Muslim Okutha, Udupi among others.
The rally commenced from Jodukatte, near taluk office and proceeded towards KM Marga Udupi, service bus stand, Bannake Route and finally reached DC office.
David Simiyon, former speaker Karnataka Legalities Council, Bangalore was the one of the chief speaker on the occasion. Condemning the Commission’s report he said, today’s protest voice should reach the Chief Minister of state through former home minister and the present state higher education minister Dr V S Acharya. He also accused Acharya of supporting the decision of the Commission and also the police for obeying Acharya without realizing the feelings of the community members.
He further said that after the CM came to power in state many such unethical incidents have taken place. He questioned where the CM was when thousands of people converted to Jainism, Buddhism and other religions. He quoted the example of union minister Malikarjun’s wife on this context. He called all the organizations for a bigger protest rally on February 20 in Mangalore. He also demanded CBI inquiry in this incident.
Rajshehkar, president Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike Udupi said that Justice Somashekar failed to bring out the truth behind the incident.
K L Ashok, Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike, Bangalore said that the report was expected to be the same when there was such a government in power. When real culprits have made the statement openly, then why the Commission has not declared it, he questioned. He promised whole hearted support and co-operation to all the priests and church authorities. He also said that RSS is the real terrorist in this society.
Fr Baptise Menezes Espicoal Vicar of Udupi released the similar report done by Justice M F Saldhana, retired judge of High Court on the church incident. M F Saldhana, in his address said that the report by justice Somashekar is the shame on Indian Judiciary. This report is full of false statements. After spending around 11 cores for the Commission the end result is a zero, he lamented. He said that the incident is one of the worst incident in the entire world.
Pramodha Madhavraj, U R Sabhapathi, Deviprasad Shetty, Ghori Lakeshe among others were present during the protest. Denis D’Silva, Karnataka State conveyor IFKCA Bangalore among others have submitted a memorandum to DC through Tasildar of Udupi
As many as 7,000 people attended the protest rally. Lewis Lobo, president IFKCA, welcomed the gathering, Neri Cornelio proposed the vote of thanks. Vincent Alva compered.