Bangalore Archbishop opposes proposal of anti-conversion bill in Karnataka
Bangalore: Bangalore Archbishop Archdiocese and President of Karnataka Region Catholic Bishops’ Council, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Machado on Monday issued a press statement opposing the government’s proposal to introduce Anti-Conversion Bill.
The statement also rejected the survey ordered by the Backward & Minority Welfare Department which has directed its Administration and the Police Intelligence to conduct a survey of the religious personnel and places of worship, institutions, and establishments only of the Christian Community.
“The entire Christian Community in Karnataka opposes the proposal in one voice and questions the need for such an exercise when sufficient laws and court directives are in place to monitor any aberration of the existing laws. The Indian Constitution Article 25 very clearly says: "All persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate religion subject to public order, morality and health." Further, Article 26 says that all denominations can manage their own affairs in matters of religion,” the statement stated.
It said introducing such laws would infringe the rights of the citizens, especially of the minority communities.
“Moreover, the anti-conversion bill would become a tool for the fringe elements to take law into their own hands and vitiate the atmosphere with communal unrest in the otherwise peaceful state. Random and sporadic incidents should not be referred to the entire Christian Community in a bad light,” it added.
The Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department of Govt. of Karnataka have issued an order to conduct a survey of both official and non-official Christian missionaries and the Institutions and establishments functioning in the State.
“We fail to understand the compelling need behind such a move. 1lowever. if the Government so desires to have a survey let it do it. But why only the Christian community is targeted and marked for this arbitrary, fallacious and illogical move? When all the relevant data is already available with the Central and State Governments, why do we need yet another futile exercise? What is the motive that is driving them to do so? The Government is in possession of the actual census figures of the community since independence. If the allegations of rampant conversion across the State is true, why then the number has not increased beyond 1.87% as per the last census figures,” it further said.
“Thousands of schools, colleges, and hospitals are run and managed by Christian Community across the State. Lakhs of students are graduating from these institutions year after year. Thousands of patients irrespective of caste, creed, and color receive the best medical attention from our hospitals and care centers, let the Government prove that even one of them has ever been influenced, compelled, or coerced to change his or her religion. Notwithstanding this, if the Government is still bent on introducing the 'Anti-Conversion' Bill, we are afraid it will only fall into the hands of the undesirable elements and the fringe groups who will target the Christian community and attack our churches and institutions. It is sure to vitiate and bring in the communal conflagration and disturb the peace in the society,” it added.
Taking a dig at CM Bommai’s “action and reaction” over the increasing incidents of moral policing in the state, the press release added “This has only extolled and emboldened the fringe elements and self-styled vigilantes. Since then attacks and persecutions have increased in undesirable proportions on the religious minorities in the State. Add to this, another tool of 'Anti-conversion' law will only make all hell break lose. We are witnessing the distressing results of such laws elsewhere in the country”.
“In view of this and many more factors, we passionately appeal to our Hon'ble Chief Minister, through the columns of your esteemed daily, to withdraw the Orders issued by the Backward Class & Minority Welfare Department, and the proposal to introduce 'Anti-Conversion' Bill, and thereby preserve and contribute to the communal peace, tranquility, and brotherhood, which is the hallmark of any progressive State,” it concluded.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Will fight those who installed 'fake' Parashurama statue: Karkala Congress leader
Karkala: Town Municipality member and Congress spokesperson Shubhada Rao has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of duping citizens by installing a fibre glass statue of warrior-sage Parashurama at the new theme park in Karkala despite claiming that a bronze statue would be installed there.
Addressing a meeting held at the Bailuru Marigudi Hall on Saturday by the Karkala Parashurama Theme Park Welfare Committee demanding the installation of a bronze statue of the sage at the new park on the Umikal hills at Bailuru town, Rao clarified that the Congress had never opposed the development of the theme park or the installation of a statue of Parashurama at the park, but had expressed dissatisfaction at the BJP replacing the bronze statue meant to be used at the park with a fibre glass statue. He added that Congress aimed to unveil the truth regarding the statue.
Calling Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar's claims about the support of 65 legislators to him whom he could bring to the Parashurama hill as a bluff, Rao said that he would meet the legislator in Bengaluru itself with documentary proof to show that the statue was 'fake'. He also challenged Sunil Kumar to face the truth about the theme park.
A video containing information on the theme park, the statue, the correspondence between the government and the district administration as well as the gram panchayat, in addition to the court order was presented at the meeting.
