NCM submits report to PM; Christians ready for national debate on conversion

Following an investigation in the mob attacks on churches in the southern state of Karnataka, the National Commission for Minorities on Thursday in its report to the Prime Minister demanded stringent action, including a ban against organisations responsible for the violence.

The commission, in its report, has demanded that the state should take timely action on intelligence reports and keep a close watch on bodies which preach communal violence and disturb peace.

The NCM strongly crticised the BJP government in Karnataka, for its failure to control the communal clash.

Holding Bajrang Dal responsible for the attacks on Churches in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikmagalur, Mangalore and other areas of Karnataka, the NCM report sought legal action against the outfit.

The three–member NCM team led by its Chairman Md Shafi Qureshi dismissed the idea that forced conversions led to clashes advanced by a section of people.

"This is the third team of NCM to visit Orissa since December last year. Two teams earlier visited the state in the wake of similar communal clashes there. While violence was confined to Kandhamal district previously, this time it spread to new areas like Gajpati, Ganjam and Bargarh districts," Qureshi said.

NCM urged the Orissa Government to involve NGOs and civil society groups in carrying out relief and rehabilitation in the violence–hit areas and stressed the need for immediate measures to instill confidence among members of the Christian community.

The state has been the scene of violence since Sept. 14, when 20 Christian churches were vandalized by radical Hindus.

Radical Hindu group Bajrang Dal has taken credit for the attacks. Its leader in Karnataka, Mahendra Kumar, was last week arrested by the police.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa got a earful from the Archbishop of Bangalore, Rev Bernard Moras, minutes after the Karnataka Government took a decision to invoke the provisions of Goonda Act against those nabbed for vandalising churches.

"Sir, we thank you for coming to the Bishop's House, but the whole church in Karnataka is hurt. I am telling you publicly that we are very hurt. Tell me, will you keep quiet if the garbha gudi (sanctum sanctorum) of a temple is destroyed ? For us, the Blessed Sacrament is the living body of Christ and we are ready to shed our blood for it. We can't tell you how much we are hurt because the Blessed Sacrament has been exposed," the Archbishop told Yeddyurappa and his ministers.

The Archbishop submitted a memorandum seeking a change in judicial probe ordered by the state government and even sought the release of christians arrested or detailed following the September 14 attacks.

The state on Monday decided to treat those attacking places of worship as 'goondas' (thugs) and prosecute them under a tough law popularly known as 'Goonda Act'.

The 1987 act provides for preventive detention for three months, extendable by three months at a time and imposes stringent conditions for bail.

National Debate on Conversion

Responding to L K Advani’s call for a national debate on conversion, Christian leaders yesterday told press people, they are ready for it if the BJP leader accepted for a debate on the freedom of faith in the country.

The press conference attended by several religious leaders, condemned the persecution of Christians in the country and demanded a complete ban of organisations involved in rioting and attacks.

"We, the Christian community, are ready for a debate on conversion, but not now. Let there be a peaceful atmosphere. And the debate should be in the Parliament. There are existing statutory forums in the country and it should be discussed there," said John Dayal, secretary–general of All India Christian Council.

Shankaracharya Swami Omkaranand Ji Maharaj of Prayag Peetha Ishwar condemned the attack on Christians and said, “forceful conversion is sin but anyone who wants to freely convert, is always welcome and as Hindus, we must be open to all views.”

Rev. Richard Howell, the General Secretary of Evangelical Fellowship of India voiced his concern over the existing anti–conversion laws in seven states in the country and asserted “there has not been a single case or proof of conversion in the Supreme Court or any similar judicial courts.”

“These attacks on Christians who preach and practise love must be severely condemned, as this is also affecting the secular and democratic image of the country. India should wake up and render equal protection to all minorities in the country,” Howell told Christian Today.

Christians of Delhi and NCR will organise a seven–day round–the–clock sit–in at the Jantar Mantar here to demand the Government to take steps to protect the people of the Christian community in the country.

The sit–in will be inaugurated by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and will culminate on October 2, birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the leaders said.