Christian groups plan big rally in Mangalore

A massive rally and public meeting is being planned in Mangalore, Karnataka to condemn the growing communal attacks and to insist on the authorities to maintain an atmosphere of peace and tolerance.

Several Christian, Muslim and human rights organisations will take part in the rally on January 27 to protest against the "unending communal atrocities" and the partisan behaviour of officials, especially in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.

Some of the participating Christian organisations include Karnataka United Churches Forum for Human Rights (a forum of the Catholic, Orthodox & Protestant churches), Karnataka Missions Network, Federation of Christian Churches, Bharatiya Chraista Okkoota and Catholic Sabha, Mangalore.

Following the rally, there will be a public meeting in front of the Deputy Commissioner's Office, Mangalore.

Besides protesting against the growing culture of religious intolerance and communal violence, the organisations will demand the suspension of "communalized law-enforcement officers and appointment of able, impartial, secular officers in their place".

In addition to that, they will also demand the implementation of 'Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation) Bill', with necessary amendments.

"Atrocities against minority communities and their places of worship, which have become a regular occurrence since the past few years, have recently reached intolerable heights. In the year 2011 alone there were 66 incidents of attacks on Muslims and 15 against members of Christian communities which go to show the utter lawlessness of the communal elements," expressed the Federation of Human Rights Organizations.

In a statement, the organisation said the "unending caste and religious atrocities being perpetrated by the communalists have taken a heavy toll of life and property".

"It won't be an exaggeration to say that as a result of such persecution a sense of terrible insecurity prevails among the members of the minority communities."

On conversions, the Federation said "those who make such baseless accusations are trying to create a wrong impression in the minds of the common people".

"When the Swamiji of Pejawar Mutt takes to the streets and distributes copies of the Bhagavad Gita, is there a big a hue and cry saying it is an attempt at conversion? Are any attempts made to stop him? Does he get beaten up and handed over to the police? No. This being the case how can you accuse those who distribute the Bible, the Quran, the Guru Granth Sahib and other religious literature?"

The recent assaults, attacks, communal riots, bomb blasts, and other criminal acts are being perpetrated by the Sangh Parivar and were part of an hidden agenda, said the Federation.

Earlier this month, tension was sparked in Sindgi town, Bijapur district after a Pakistani flag had been hoisted on the premises of the Tahsildar's office.

Four days after the incident, six members of the right-wing Sri Ram Sene were arrested for their involvement. They had planned to spark communal violence in the north Karnataka town. Interestingly, a bandh call was given by the Sri Ram Sene and the Bajrang Dal.

Though the Sangh Parivar activists openly challenge the Constitution and indulge in all sorts of terrorist activities, the Federation expressed shock at the glaring apathy, inaction and partiality on the part of the district administration and law enforcement machinery.

According to the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI), the southern state of Karnataka recorded the most number of attacks against the Christian community in 2011.