Mammoth rally demands justice from Karnataka govt

Government's deafening silence over the 2008 church attacks in Karnataka saw another protest rally that drew thousands of people in Mangalore.

Wearing black dresses and carrying black flags, the protesters marched for a distance of 2km calling for a fresh probe into the violence that saw dozens of churches and prayer halls attacked in Mangalore, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, Kolar and other small districts in Karnataka.

The rally, organised by the Catholic Diocese of Mangalore and participated by representatives of different Christian denominations, demanded the state government to reject the Justice Somasekhara Commission report that failed to lay bare the names of those involved in the attacks.

According to one source, over 40,000 Christians assembled for the mammoth peace march which is said to be one of the biggest in recent years. Christians were spotted wearing a black cloth tied to their mouth as a mark of protest.

"Injustice has been done to us. The Somasekhara Commission has failed to mention those behind the attacks. We have assembled in large numbers to express our grief and demand for justice," said Bishop of Mangalore, Dr. Aloysius Paul D'Souza.

Despite the contribution of Christians to education and health, he said, they continue to be persecuted and mistreated. However, in spite of the attacks "our faith has stood strong," he added.

Speaking during the rally, Mariamma Thomas, advocate and corporator, said if Christians were held guilty of conversion then they should also be accused of "converting the uneducated in to educated, sick to the healthy, the unhappy to the happy and the poor to rich".

She lambasted the Somasekhara Commission for absolving Sangh Parivar organisations despite substantial evidences proving their involvement.

The Jan. 20 rally meanwhile saw the presence of Oscar Fernandes, senior Congress leader and Member of Rajya Sabha, who opined that the "call for a CBI probe is justified as there were inconsistencies between the interim and the final report."

A one-page memorandum addressed to Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa has been submitted through R Ramesh, DCP (Law and Order).

"The report gives only district-wise incidents of church attacks; it has failed to give a statewide picture. There were systematic attacks at the same time in an organised manner in Karnataka, which is not explained by the commission. The report was silent on this aspect and therefore we reject it," the memorandum stated.