Prime minister worried over communal violence in Karnataka

At the chief ministers' conference in New Delhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P. Chidambaram expressed grave concern over the recent wave of communal violence in Karnataka.

Singh, who chaired the conference on internal security Monday, said "Karnataka witnessed a number of communal incidents this year" and "what is worrisome is that the incidents were not limited to one or two districts."

The prime minister cautioned that country is witnessing growing violence by "communal fanatics" that aims to disturb peace and weaken the fabric of India's secular society. He urged the state governments to be on vigil and strive for communal harmony.

The BJP-governed Karnataka has recorded the highest number of incidents of communal violence this year. Among them are the sporadic incidents of attacks reported on Christians.

Last week, a Christian meeting in Dharwad came to an abrupt halt after members of some fringe groups broke into the meeting hall and manhandled the organizers and participants on false charges. Subsequently, the police were called in and eight pastors were arrested.

According to a Christian advocacy group, the state has recorded at least "112 anti-Christian attacks across 29 districts in 2008," and 10 more such incidents have been reported this year.

Says Home Minister Chidambaram, Karnataka is one of five states that witnessed growing communal violence this year. He said he would write to chief ministers of all these states to contain such incidents and maintain communal harmony.

Understandably, the chief minister and senior government officials in Karnataka has denied what the prime minister has claimed. They even said that it was "due to a communication gap that Karnataka cropped in."

"A few stray incidents have been blown out of proportion. These incidents were brought under control within 24 hours, which indicates the importance the state government accords to law and order," Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa told reporters.

This was the second meeting of chief ministers on internal security this year. The first one was held on January 6.