Riyadh : Saudi Konkans Condemn Recent Church Attacks in Karnataka
P.A.Hameed Padubidri, Saudi Arabia
Daijiworld Media Network - Riyadh
Riyadh, Sep 24: The recent attacks on the Christians and defilement of their Churches and Bibles in and around Mangalore and other parts of Karnataka by the communal extremists and Sangh Parivar, has sounded a red alarm amongst the Mangalore Christian community in Riyadh, the capital city of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They recently gathered in Riyadh to express their strong protest and condemnation against the recent attacks on Christians and their Churches in Mangalore and other parts of Karnataka. They strongly condemned the brutal attacks on innocent people of the community and women and nuns in particular.
In their statement, they said-“Since more than 500 years, the Christian Community had been involving in the social and humanitarian services in the country in general and Mangalore in particular. Our contribution in the educational, social, health care cultural and philanthropic services is noteworthy and we always worked for peaceful co-existence; we always advocate peace for the existence of humanity. But unfortunately, in the recent days, some communal elements and extremists poisoned with the hidden agenda of hate are trying to spoil the peace of the country and create fear amongst the minorities especially Christians, Muslims and other downtrodden communities”.
They continued to say-“the story of conversion is just a fiction, but not fact. The communal extremists have used this fiction just to implement their hidden agenda extensively in the country as well as in the state. Some years back, Mangalore is known for the hub of intelligence and educated people and also for peaceful co-existence, harmony and tolerance irrespective of caste, religion and creed. But those anti-social and anti-religious elements have contaminated the peaceful atmosphere and are trying to sound their voice violently in the undivided districts…”
They also condemned the August incident, which really sent shocking waves amongst all the peace-lovers, humanitarians and others alike of Mangalore and others parts of Karnataka. They said that the fanatics venomed with hatred feeling were successful to attack and damage the Cross, Stations of the Cross and Grotto, and planted saffron flags in the place where the Christian faithful were conducting prayer services for the fast 60 years.
They condemned all types of vandalisms caused by the communal forces against the Christians’ religious, healthcare, social services institutions and hospitals and they also denounced the sabotage done against Fr. Muller Medical College Hospital which is run by the Fr. Muller Charitable Institution where lepers are being treated and rehabilitated over 130 years. The miscreants need to be put behind bar and shall be denied of bail as they are danger to the society as well as country.
They sent a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Karnataka and other concerned seeking the Karnataka government’s particular active interference to take necessary actions against the miscreants immediately and maintain the law and order and protect our minority community from this instability. They also sent a memorandum to the Central Government for their action against those who involved in the indiscriminate attacks and vandalism.
Leo Sequeira, Social worker, Royston Prabhu, Martin Tauro and others were present on the occasion. Many ladies and children also were present on the gathering.