Mangalore: Atrocities on Christians - Delegation Petitions President of India
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, May 10: A delegation comprising retired judge of Mumbai and Karnataka High Courts, Justice Michael Saldanha, and general secretary of Mumbai-based Catholic-Christian Secular Forum, Joseph Dias, met President of India, Pratibha Patil, and Vice President, M Hamid Ansari, drawing their attention to the alleged atrocities being committed on Christians in the country, and about the sense of insecurity they are suffering from, because of these incidents.
Both the President and Vice President expressed deep concern about the said atrocities on minority Christians, and promised the delegation to make everything possible within their control to stop them.
The petition alleges that Hindutva forces have been falsely implicating Christians of engaging in religious conversions, and torturing them. It also says that Christian women and children have also been suffering harassment in the hands of these forces. The delegation has also drawn the attention of the President and Vice President that over 1,000 cases of atrocities and harassment had occurred between 2007 and 2011 in different states.
Justice Michael Saldanha said that Vice President, Hamid Ansari, promised the delegation to visit Karnataka in near future. He was addressing a press conference held here on Monday May 9. Joseph Dias, People’s Union for Civil Liberties president, P B D’Sa, Prof John Cutinho, and Joe Louis were present at the press conference.