Bangalore: Students, Activists, Secular Forces Gather to Protest Orissa Carnage


Bangalore: Students, Activists, Secular Forces Gather to Protest Orissa Carnage

News: Melwyn Pinto, Pics: Johnson Rajkumar
Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (MR)

Bangalore, Aug 30: Bangalore Citizens Forum (BCF) – a civil society organisation – in collaboration with a number of NGO’s and Christian education institutions of Bangalore held a public rally and a candle light vigil near Mahatma Gandhi statue here on Friday August 29, to protest against the communal attacks on Christians in Orissa. Over a thousand people, including students, activists, priests and religious took an active part in the rally, making it a huge success.

Speaking at the rally, Ruth Manorama of Women’s Voice and a winner of Alternative Nobel prize said that national integrity was at stake in Orissa. “The government is saying that the situation is under control; but it is not true. People are still living under fear. The state must protect minorities and create a congenial atmosphere for all to live a peaceful life,” she said.


Fr Ambrose Pinto, Principal, St Joseph’s College said: “The violence in Orissa is an attack not on a particular community, but it is an attack on the Constitution of our country itself, for it upholds secularism and pluralism. It is not just violence on human rights but genocide.”

Fr Pinto reiterated that all citizens must to be ensured basic human and fundamental rights. Hence all must strive to guarantee collective human rights more than individual rights. The genocide should be investigated not just by the CBI but by an international law enforcing agency, he added.

Patapat Nagaraj of Praja Vimochana Chaluvali urged all those who care for secularism and pluralism to fight communal forces tooth and nail. “We must unite to fight communal forces head on, especially when dalits and minorities are targeted,” he said.

K. Umesh of CITU condemned the statement of the Primary and Secondary Education Minister of the state who has warned Christian institutions of dire consequences for having closed schools and colleges today. “It is indeed a height of ignorance and insanity on the part of the ‘honourable’ minister to make such a ridiculous statement when right to protest peacefully is a fundamental right,”  Umesh said.

BCF condemned the happenings in Orissa and urged the Prime Minister and the Orissa Chief Minister not to be ‘silent spectators in this attack on India’s secularism and pluralism’. “There is a need to probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the entire chain of events since the killing of VHP leader for establishing the truth, arrest of culprits and trial by a special court, rehabilitation of riot-hit people, rescue the people in hiding and immediate measure by the Centre and state government to end violence,” the statement said.

As many as 30 NGOs, secular bodies, educational institutions took part in the rally.

  

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Comment on this article

  • A.S.Mathew, U.S.A.

    Fri, Sep 12 2008

    Since the minority Christian community of India won't resort to the tactics of burning and destruction, the anti-Christian elements of the society had a heyday down through the years. It is high time for the Christian community in India stand united and display their grievance and protest through peaceful means.

    Closing the Christian educational institutions all across India is a viable protest which can alert the citizens about the gravity of anti-Christian persecution. Let the Minister of Education may rattle to show his power that is part of petty politics.

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  • Walter Miranda, Mangalore

    Thu, Sep 11 2008

    Dear Mr. Kageri do not forget that India is Independent, Republic and a Democratic Country so every citizen and every community of India have the right to Fight and Protest peacefully and silently to protect their fundamental rights. So the Christian Commnuity of India on 29th August silently and peacefully protested for condemining the crucial and criminal act committed by the Hindu community of India so for the silent protest and for showing the sympathy for the Orissia Christian community on 29th Aug. all over India all the Christian Institutions were closed so what is wrong in that?

    Mr. Kageri due to the closure of the Christian Institutions on 29th Aug. is there any communal riots took place any where in India? Or any buses were stoned like our Hindu community brothers did during the time of their so many Mangalore, Karnataka, Delihi and All India Bundhs? is there any shops were forcibly closed down by the Christian Community?

    Mr. Kageri do not forget that every head of the educational Instiutions got 5 unconditional holidays in their hand to declare freely without the permission of the DDPI and without the permission of the Education Ministry. Dear Mr. Kageri now a days so many times the Hindu community of India arranged so many Bundhs so that did they asked your or the permission of DDPI to close the schools and colleges?

    Here your action against the christian institutions shows that you got the power in the hand like a monkey got the diamond in its hand If a monkey get diamond in its hand that monkey does know what to do with that diamond like that you got the power of education so you used that power against christian institutions. I like to say that you are a PUPPET in the hands todays Karnataka Govt.

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  • Peter Pereira, Pune

    Wed, Sep 03 2008

    We must express our gratitude to Non-Catholic Brothern, who stood by our side to protest against the cowardly heinous human butchery by insane VHP Goons. Thanks 'Daiji' for great news coverage. Keep it up.

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  • Maxim D'Souza, Kavoor

    Sun, Aug 31 2008

    The education ministers statement is the height of madness. These people have called for innumerable bunds on filmsy grounds resulting in closure of schools, business and causing untold hardship to common people. Where was his concern for education, governmet rules and for the common people at that time?

    Christians by peaceful protest have not caused such miseries to common people nor have they instigated gangs to cause violence. Let him listen to his concience if he has one.We are not condoning any crime but these things cannot be settled by street thugs when there is a constitutional executive and Judicial syatem to do that.

    You can always stage peacful protests when you feel injustice is meted out to you like the christians have shown instead of indulging in disinformation campaigns, like nazis did.

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  • Gregory Fernandes, PERNANKILA/MANGALORE

    Sun, Aug 31 2008

    If the BJP calls for Bundh for "Uma Bharathi's" arrest or Amarnath issue and force closes all schools that is right! That time no communal feeling (but patriotism!)is fed into the minds of children.

    O.K. good logic, because christians do not have any experience in this sort of protest. Next time if situation arises ( If you see the silence of Chief and Home minister,I expect the same to happen soon - remember of making Karnataka a replica of Gujarat)let all christian organisations call for bundh and let all the schools be closed after that Bundh call.

    Moreover our beloved MP has passed the verdict itself as if he has gone there and conducted full enquiry. when the whole world knows that the murder is done by Naxalites ( They them selves have claimed), he is baselessly alleges that the same is done by missioneries.Where these  people gets training for uttering lies! Don't they have any conscience.

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  • Joe Britto , Nakre /Bangalore

    Sun, Aug 31 2008

    “ Where the mind is without fear and the head held high , Where knowledge is free Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls Where words come out from the depth of truth Where tireless striving streaches in arms towards perfection Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the deary desert sand of dead habitat Where the mind is lead forward by thee into ever widening thought and action Into that heaven of freedom , my father , let my country awake “

    It seems we have forgotten the Author as well as his words. Today in India there is no tolerance. The majority seems right always and the rest have even lost their right even to protest , forget about getting true justice done. Wither my India. Truly my country is dead and its soul withered and shattered !

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  • Leslie Dsouza, Bikarnakate

    Sun, Aug 31 2008

    Ashamed by giving the statement by our educational minister first of all let me tell he is not educated at all nor he has stepped in to the school when there is any issues these people close down and do all type of violence when we close down and protest there is no violence only peace and we dont burn or kill.  Ours was a peace protest not your type bandh my dear uneducated minister you do what you want we christians and our good friends Muslims & Hindus are with us

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  • Savitha/Anil, England

    Sun, Aug 31 2008

    This primary and secondary minister should be targeted next by the culprits. Then he will understand the real situvation in Orissa, that poor people are undergoing.

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  • Clement Coorg, Mangalore/Dubai

    Sun, Aug 31 2008

    THIS MINISTER HIMSELF MAY BE A MEMBER OF THE FUNDAMENTALIST GROUP. WHAT ELSE A COMMON CITIZEN CAN EXPECT FROM THIS SHAMELESS MINISTER.

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  • Mark Saldhana, Managalore

    Sun, Aug 31 2008

    I don't agree with the schools and colleges shuting down to protest the orissa carnage.the following are the reasons 1) the violence had taken place in another state. 2) Educational institutions should not bring religion in their administration.It is a fact that students from various backgrounds have paid the fees to get education from these schools. So, its incorrect on the part of school admnistration to mix religion and education 3) We all know that bundhs are utter waste , which serve no significance at all.

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  • Rolphy Almeida, Udupi/Bangalore

    Sat, Aug 30 2008

    This primary and secondary education minister must get some education on fundamental rights. This minister is trying to show his stick to those people who are quiet and peace loving. He should understand that this community is vastly involved in education and health service.

    Although educational institutions were closed no hospitals were closed in protest like others do. That does mean this community cares for human life, and life savers and not life takers. This minister’s comments must be condemned and he has no right to stay in power.

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  • Zulfikar , Mangalore/KSA

    Sat, Aug 30 2008

    It's a huge gathering of protesting for Orissa carnage and its fundamental rights of peace lovers of all community. Ashame to "Primary and Secondary Education Minister of the state who has warned Christian institutions of dire consequences" for closing schools & etc,.

    Being an education minister to educating people, he his giving rediculous statement which make fundamentals to support more attacks to minorities. When he need vote for his seat he will come to us as a beggar now he becomes goon. We all have to condemn the ministers to resign, If he will become CM then what will happen?..

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  • William D'Souza, Dubai.

    Sat, Aug 30 2008

    "Secularism" which is the fundamental right of each and every citizen of India, the breach of which by one or two organization, should be viewed seriously, such organization should be banned. The President of India and the Prime Minister of India should directly assure the affected people in large. Thank you Daiji for a good coverage - excellent.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • William D'Souza, Dubai.

    Sun, Aug 31 2008

    "Secularism" which is the fundamental right of each and every citizen of India, the breach of which by one or two organization, should be viewed seriously, such organization should be banned. The President of India and the Prime Minister of India should directly assure the affected people in large. Thank you Daiji for a good coverage - excellent.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Jerome Coelho, Nanthur, Mangalore

    Sat, Aug 30 2008

    Primary and Secondary Education Minister of the state, were you sleeping when educational institutions were shut at the time of VHP led bandhs? First you address that and then try to tame us Christians. You people want to educate your children in our Institutions and cowardly backstab us for your political comfort.

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  • Eric Coelho, Mangalore

    Sat, Aug 30 2008

    Politicians or Political Parties can hold the Whole State to Ransom at any time without questions asked through Bundh, Riots etc which is Illegal. But Insitutions Run by Catholics Comprising of 2% Indian Population, calls for bundh the minister threatens of Dire Consequences.

    Dear Minister,Set your Home In order where you are doing a lot of Poaching and other Undemorcratic Activities. Catholics will give its best services to all communities in Mother India. We are living in a Demorcratic Country and it is our Demorcratic Right to call for Bundh in a Legal Way.

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