Mangalore: Hindu-Catholics Agree for Amicable Settlement
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (TU)
Mangalore, Sep 18: The leaders of Catholic Christian and Hindu community have decided to burry the hatchet and resolve differences, if any between two communities with amicable settlement in the future to maintain peaceful atmosphere in the district. They also assured not to hurt religious sentiments of each other.
The leaders of both the communities agreed to resolve all differences at the peace meeting led by district in-charge-minister J Krishna Palemar held on Wednesday September 17 in the presence of district commissioner M Maheshwar Rao. Catholic Christian leaders and Hindu community leaders participated in the meeting headed by Fr Vincent Monteiro and Dr Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat respectively.
Speaking to press persons at the joint conference conducted by leaders of both communities here on Thursday September 18, VHP leader MB Puranik said that Hindus have great respect towards Catholic Christian community. They have contributed reputed educational institutions to the society. The recent incidents were purely based on misunderstandings.
"Both the communities have been living peacefully for a long time. There is a political conspiracy behind the recent clash. Everybody has right to worship their religion in this country. But we will fight against forcible conversion which is against the Constitution," he said.
Puranik said that both communities have agreed in the meeting not to defame each other and not conduct any programme which would lead to misunderstanding. He added that New Life Society has been indulged in conversions and Sangh Parivar has brought this to our notice. "We give three-month deadline to them to find ways to stop such activities."
Fr Francis Serrao said that Catholic Christian institutions never played any kind of discriminatory role among students. The New Life Society has no connection with Catholic Christian community. It is not under the jurisdiction of any Catholic Bishop.
"Baseless allegations against Catholic community and attack on churches either owing to mistaken identity or well-planned strategy have hurt our sentiments. We should respect and encourage the culture of every community. Such incidents should not occur again. Nobody is above the law. Hereafter nobody should take law and order into their hands," he added.
When he was asked as why other sections of the Christian community had not been invited during the peace meeting, Fr Serrao replied that they also to be invited during next peace meetings.
Puranik clarified that attacks on churches in other parts of the state have no connection with Sangh Parivar. It is a well-planned political conspiracy, fishing in troubled waters. "Being a RSS member, I can say that Hindutva is a nationality. According to RSS, all religions of our country are Hindu only. Hindu community is a peaceful community. We never want to hurt anybody," he opined.
Hindu community leaders Jagadish, S Ramesh and Christian leaders Fr Francis Ferao, Fr Vincent Montero, Roy Castelino were present at the press conference.
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