. The Province Office for Integral Social Development of the Gujarat Jesuits
. A Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace
Post Box No.4050, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380 009, Gujarat,India
http://www.humanrightsindia.in/
STATEMENT CONDEMNING THE ATTACKS ON CHRISTIANS AND CHURCHES IN KARNATAKA
We strongly condemn the brutal attacks in Mangalore and surrounding areas, on Christians and their institutions (specially places of worship) by the goons of the Sangh Parivar
They have assaulted innocent and peace-loving people, vandalized property, desecrated places of worship and created terror everywhere. Such behaviour is totally unacceptable in civil society and all of us need to hang our heads down in shame.
Above all, we condemn the partisan role played by the police and the District Administration there.
National TV channels have extensively covered the brutal manner in which the police have beaten up citizens in the Sacred Precincts of Churches. It is also understood that in some places, police refused to file FIRs or to register complaints. These are totally reprehensible acts and are not expected from those who are supposed to protect the lives and property of citizens.
The attacks in Karnataka by these fascist, fundamentalist and anti-national forces, follow exactly the same pattern as that of Orissa, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat. These affiliates of the BJP take law and order into their own hands in total connivance with the State Administration. In fact, the Chief Minister and Home Minister of Karnataka have gone on record to give their followers a clean chit inspite of documentary evidence to prove otherwise.
The Sangh Parivar affiliates are terrorist groups and they should be banned immediately.
The Central Government should monitor the Karnataka situation very closely and if the situation does not improve immediately, it would definitely warrant the dismissal of the Government and the imposition of President’s Rule.
People from all walks of life must come out in large numbers in Karnataka and in other parts of the country, to protest the heinous acts of such terrorist outfits who are out to destroy the diversity and secular fabric of the country.
It is imperative that we make our voices heard to protect and safeguard the freedoms and guarantees of the Indian Constitution.
15th September 2008
