Moodbidri: Christians Resort to Peaceful Protest

at 02.00pm, IST

Report and pics from Shekhar Ajekar

Moodbidri, Sep 15: The Christians from in and around Moodbidri observed a peaceful protest against the attack on churches and prayer centres by the Hindus, on Monday September 15.

Addressing the protestors numbering around 300, Yadav Shetty, district general secretary of Karnataka Province Raita Sangha said, that the Sangh Parivar does not represent the majority of Hindus. It only follows fascist principles and represents higher castes. The attcks on Christians is clearly an attempt to break the unity among people from different religions and needs to be condemned. "We need not provide proof to the Sangh Parivar about our patriotism," he asserted.

Later, a peaceful procession was taken through the town and a memorandum was submitted to tahsildar P Achuta and police sub-inspector Bharati by the protestors. Through the memorandum, the government has been urged to ensure that peace and harmony prevails in the society. In Orissa, the government failed to protect Christaians belonging to weaker classes against whom untold miseries were heaped. So far, no assurance is forthcoming from either the government or the peoples' representatives there, about providing total security to the Christians. Similar incidents are occuring in Karnataka now.  The excesses committed on Christians on Sunday September 14 were committed by some organizations whose aims are ulterior, the memorandum said and requested the government to ensure that the Chritians of the state are provided total security.  The memorandum also has demanded for the arrest of the perpetrators of crime, banning of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishat for the peace to settle here.

The protestors were led by Fr Dennis Castelino of Alangar Sanitorium, Fr John D'Souza and Hosabettu Holy Cross church priest Fr Assisi Rebello. Other leaders like Ashwin, Wilfy, Valerian Sequeira and P K Thomas were present.

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