Mangalore: Home Minister promises to withdraw cases against Christians

Karnataka Home Minister VS Acharya has promised to withdraw cases against Christians falsely indicted in last year's Mangalore church attacks.

During a meeting with a Christian delegation, the home minister agreed to withdraw the cases after reviewing the Somashekara Commission's report that is to be submitted tentatively by the end of this month.

The assurance was made while a group led by International Federation of Karnataka Christian Associations (IFKCA) met him at his official residence and submitted a memorandum urging the "safety, security and dignity" of Christians.

Last September, several Catholic and Protestant churches, institutions and prayer halls were attacked by Hindutva extremists in Dakshina Kannada district, Udupi and few adjoin districts.

In the memorandum, the Christians underlined that the "well-planned and systematic attacks" were the handiwork of anti-social elements aiming to disturb peace and unity among religious communities.

They informed that the Christian community was angered by the "horrifying persecution, prolonged and persistent harassment, attacks on priests and nuns and places of worship" by miscreants.

They went on to condemn the police who entered churches and institutions, dragging Christians like criminals for various erroneous allegations. The delegation reminded the home minister how the community has rendered yeoman service, especially in the field of education, social service and healthcare.

The memorandum also denounced rumors of forced conversions and said it was a baseless allegation to persecute Christians by the BJP-ruled state. There only can be "voluntary and self-desired conversion", they notified.

Besides, Christian population accounts for barely 2% of the country's total population as per the 2001 census. If the Church used its premier educational institutions and establishments, the Christian population would have touched 50%, the memorandum informed.