Atrocities against Christians on rise says Christian MP Sangliana

Dr. H T Sangliana, retired Police Commissioner of Bangalore and member of Lok Sabha alleged that deliberate violent acts has been carried out against Christian community in the state.

Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its umbrella organisations, the remarkably prominent super–cop rued, "atrocities against Christians are on rise."

In a letter to Home Minister V.S Acharya, Sangliana complained that the Hindu radical groups are attacking the minorities and their freedom has been restrained. Copies of the letter were also released to the press, on Monday.

Sangliana urged the Home Minister to direct the state police to deal firmly with the culprits and bring them to justice.

He said many Christians had brought to his notice that the atrocities were being meted out to Christians in different parts of the State, including Davangere, Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Bijapur, Gadag, Madikeri, Bangalore Rural and Bangalore City.

He further accused the extremist elements for trespassing into the churches during worship services and even causing commotion besides destroying the church property and beating up priests.

Labeling the accusations against Christians as unsubstantiated, Sangliana, a native of the Mizoram state continued, “Attacks were being made on the imaginary and framed conversion charges which are totally false and baseless.”

In a more shocking revelation, Christian Today learned that the ruling political party in Karnataka is mulling over an anti–conversion bill.

Reacting to the forethought, Sangliana said, "I am against wrongful conversion and I would be the first to complain if any such thing happens. However, our constitution guarantees the freedom of religion. Every Indian should be free to choose their religion. There should be no interference. Such conversions should not be considered religious or even political poaching."

"It is important to encourage every Indian to seek God and religion and be god fearing," he added.

During a recent conversation with Christian Today, Sangliana, a devoted Christian rued that churches and pastors have been persecuted and law has been misused. Bangalore needs good Samaritans to ameliorate the plights of the people, he said.

Last month, Sangliana voted against the BJP during a crucial trust vote in the Lok Sabha drawing the ire of BJP members who sought the disqualification of the Bangalore North MP.

In response, Sangliana speaking to presspersons said, he went with his conscience and voted in favour of the government because “India needs N–energy and power is the lever to the development of the country.”

Asserting that nothing can balk his way in serving the society, he said, “I will continue to work for the poor and the marginalised, as I did as a policeman and later as an MP.”