M'lore: Mammoth Protest March against Justice Somashekar Commission’s Report

Pics: Savitha B R
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS/VA)

Mangalore, Feb 17: The Catholic Diocese along with different churches and secular minded associations will organize a mammoth silent protest march and protest rally in city on Sunday February 20.

It is mainly to oppose and outrightly reject the report of Justice B K Somashekar Commission, said the Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Mangalore Msgr Denis Prabhu at a press conference here on Thursday February 17.

The Mammoth silent protest march would begin at 3 pm from Jyothi Circle. After reaching the central ground in city, a protest rally would be held. At the end of the rally the demands of al the Christians of the state and secular associations would be presented to the district, state as well as national administrations, he informed.

Together with the huge gathering of Christians and secular minded people Bishops, vicar generals, pastors, priests, nuns, lay leaders from different churches, officials of number of secular associations would be participating in the mammoth march and rally. Members from different churches from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasargod districts would take part in the silent march and protest rally. There would be protest marches and rallies all over the state of Karnataka on the same day, he said.

While illustrating the reason behind holding this protest, he said it is to protest against the biased report on the church attacks by the Justice B K Somshekar Commission which has silenced the witnesses and records submitted before the court by more than 1000 Christians and secular petitioners regarding the fundamentalists’ attacks on Christians Churches and Institutions.

The protestors will also voice against  the clean chit given to BJP and Sangha Parivar, although Bajaranga Dal and Hindu fundamental outfits claimed that they are responsible for the attacks and also the police witnessed the same through their enquiry.

It is also to oppose the recommendation of the commission to keep tight control and check on the audit records of Christians Churches and pastors, although the commission had come into conclusion that there were no incidents of forceful conversion and to protest against the contradictions of commission which has not given any recommendations to control the Hindu fundamental outfits which are against the secularism.

Demands:

The state government should accept the truth that the entire Christian community and secular minded people of Karnataka reject the commission’s report and the government must reject the report as well.

The entire enquiry on the Church attacks should be handed over to the CBI as to take action against the fundamental outfits and persons who were involved in the attacks and against the administration and departments who have supported the attacks.

All the criminal cases fixed on innocent Christians who protested peacefully, should be withdrawn.

The attacks on Christians have inflicted a deep wound on the hearts and minds of all the Christians which can never be compensated by anyone. Yet sufficient monetary compensation is to be given to the institutions and persons who have suffered the loss and government should give protection to the minority communities. These are the major demands whcih will be presented during the protest.

As many as 25,000 people are expected to take part in the protest rally.

The senior pastor of CSI Church of Karnataka Diocese and the head of the Gorigudda Hebik Memorial Church Samuel Jathanna, the president of the Karnataka Missions Network Brother Walter Maben, the public relation officer of the Diocese of Mangalore Fr William Menezes, the promoter of human rights Mariamma Thomas, CODP Director Fr Onil D’Souza, Council of priests secretary Fr J B Crasta, Treasurer of Karnataka Missions Network Alwyn Culaco, editor of Pingara Raymond D’Cunha among others were present at the press meet.