Sangliana asks Church to keep him informed on acts of violence

The new vice-chairman of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), Dr. HT Sangliana, has asked Church to keep him informed on any violence or malicious acts perpetrated against the Community.

"Keep me constantly informed of any kind of direct indirect threat or harassment to the community, my appointment to the Commission is a calling from God, I will not compromise on any injustice done to the community," said Sangliana, while meeting the Archbishop of Bangalore Dr. Bernard Moras.

Sangliana, an ex-Lok Sabha MP and former police commissioner of Bangalore, visited the Archbishop's House after his appointment to the three-member Commission, on Dec. 15.

NCM is a govt. body constituted to monitor and evaluate the progress of people classified as minorities by the Indian government.

Archbishop Moras congratulated Sangliana on his new appointment and urged for protection of minorities from harassment and threats.

"God has placed a big responsibility on your shoulders. There are subtle attempts to demonize the community, level false allegations against the Church and church personnel and cause fear and threat to the community. We wish that these issues are taken up at the Commission," said Archbishop Moras.

Karnataka ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has recorded the most number of attacks against Christians since 2008.

Archbishop Moras apprised Sangliana on a recent meeting of pastors and priests in Chickballapur, Karnataka, where a carol singing was prohibited.

"How can a traditional and peaceful practice of carol singing that has been carried on for generations, be stopped? Isn't this a kind of harassment and an attempt to create fear in the community," Archbishop Moras asked.

Sangliana promised to check such prohibitive orders and asserted that he would work for the cause of all minorities in the country.