Justice Michael's Report Released
Cardinal Gracias said that the Justice Saldanha Report needs to be taken seriously, as for any developed nation, an honest and sensitive judiciary was necessary. "It was more than a Christian issue, since it had raised a national debate on the credibility of such judicial commissions, which served obvious purposes. In the case of Karnataka, it seems apparent that a massive cover-up exercise was underway and this did not augur well for India, which hopes to take its rightful place at the top among developed nations. Thus, Michael Saldanha had done a great service not just for the minorities, but for the country", the prelate added.
Justice Michael Saldanha visited over 400 places and examined almost 3000 witnesses/victims, besides relying on forensic evidence and media reports/footage to draw his conclusions. He said it was amply clear that –
1) The Hindutva brigade was behind the violence, but even worse was the fact that the chief minister and the then home minister implicitly and explicitly abetted the Hindutva criminals.
2) The brute force of armed police, state administration and the lower judiciary was used against the hapless Christians & community institutions, who were soft targets in the attack.
3) The religious violence was pre-planned and executed with great precision for maximum impact which it did achieve and the persecution continues over the last almost 3 years.
4) There is flagrant disregard to rule of law and an atmosphere of anarchy prevails, with non-state & extra constitutional players running riot and the government doing nothing.
5) The Muslim community is also stereo-typed and profiled, subjected to attacks, with the connivance of the powers that be, leading to fear among the minorities in the state.
Dr. Abraham Mathai, president, Indian Christian Voice & vice-chairman, Maharashtra Minorities Commission called for the rejection of the Somasekhara Report and the Union Government to take note of the situation in Karnataka before it worsens. "There is a dangerous trend of sections in the judiciary, giving the impression that the conversion bogey can be used as an alibi to attack Christians, even though no evidence can be found to prove this allegation. The JMFSR is corroborated by none other than independent media coverage and other fact finding teams. Hence, the Karnataka government should consider this as a more credible report and act on it" he added. Dr. Mathai also said that the BJP government had only been talking of withdrawing the false cases against over 300 Christians, but did not do so. It is time that this happened and adequate compensation be paid to the victims affected.
Joseph Dias, general secretary of the Catholic Secular Forum (CSF), welcomed the Justice Michael Saldanha People's Enquiry Report since " it exposes the real persons and forces behind the anti-Christian Karnataka violence, which the Justice Somasekhara Commission shied away from, for obvious reasons. "Unlike the Supreme Court judges' comments in the Graham Staines murder case, which they later expunged, the Somasekhara probe does not even bother to be discrete about Hindutva and goes right ahead exonerating the culprits and even in a way gives the impression of legitimizing the attacks given its Hindutva-speak. It kind of justifies attacking not only those so-called 'involved' but even those unrelated and hapless onlookers caught in the cross-fire", Joseph Dias added.
Here is The CSF reaction & our demands -
1) Justice Somasekhara needs to withdraw his comments regarding conversion and those, which have hurt the sentiments of Christians, as it is clearly evident that his report was a sham to whitewash the crimes of the BJP government and protect the Hindutva brigade. It has in no way helped the state, it has rather insulted the Christian community by its remarks, served as a justification for hate crimes and breeds enemity among communities.
2) The Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa and then Home Minister, Dr. VS Acharya, who have been indicted should be prosecuted and The CSF will ask permission of the Governor of Karnataka to do so for their direlection of duty. The CSF will also work to ensure that these two politicians, are debarred from entering European, American and other nations for abetting hate crimes against fellow citizens and religious minorities.
3) All indicted police and government officers should be punished, as their crimes come under the "rarest of rare" cases, since they are expected to be upholders of the law and protectors of constitutional rights and not agents of the Hindutva brigade. Their desecration of holy places must be dealt with severely and attacks on victims should be treated as attempt to murder.
4) A Union Home Ministry investigation needs to be carried out into the indiscriminate donations from public funds to only Hindu temples / institutions / mutts amounting to over Rs.3,000 crores reportedly. This does not include the hundreds of Sammelanas and other functions benefitting the Hindu community at public expense, where venom is spewed on others.
Justice Michael Saldanha visited over 400 places and examined almost 3000 witnesses/victims, besides relying on forensic evidence and media reports/footage to draw his conclusions. He said it was amply clear that –
1) The Hindutva brigade was behind the violence, but even worse was the fact that the chief minister and the then home minister implicitly and explicitly abetted the Hindutva criminals.
2) The brute force of armed police, state administration and the lower judiciary was used against the hapless Christians & community institutions, who were soft targets in the attack.
3) The religious violence was pre-planned and executed with great precision for maximum impact which it did achieve and the persecution continues over the last almost 3 years.
4) There is flagrant disregard to rule of law and an atmosphere of anarchy prevails, with non-state & extra constitutional players running riot and the government doing nothing.
5) The Muslim community is also stereo-typed and profiled, subjected to attacks, with the connivance of the powers that be, leading to fear among the minorities in the state.
Dr. Abraham Mathai, president, Indian Christian Voice & vice-chairman, Maharashtra Minorities Commission called for the rejection of the Somasekhara Report and the Union Government to take note of the situation in Karnataka before it worsens. "There is a dangerous trend of sections in the judiciary, giving the impression that the conversion bogey can be used as an alibi to attack Christians, even though no evidence can be found to prove this allegation. The JMFSR is corroborated by none other than independent media coverage and other fact finding teams. Hence, the Karnataka government should consider this as a more credible report and act on it" he added. Dr. Mathai also said that the BJP government had only been talking of withdrawing the false cases against over 300 Christians, but did not do so. It is time that this happened and adequate compensation be paid to the victims affected.
Joseph Dias, general secretary of the Catholic Secular Forum (CSF), welcomed the Justice Michael Saldanha People's Enquiry Report since " it exposes the real persons and forces behind the anti-Christian Karnataka violence, which the Justice Somasekhara Commission shied away from, for obvious reasons. "Unlike the Supreme Court judges' comments in the Graham Staines murder case, which they later expunged, the Somasekhara probe does not even bother to be discrete about Hindutva and goes right ahead exonerating the culprits and even in a way gives the impression of legitimizing the attacks given its Hindutva-speak. It kind of justifies attacking not only those so-called 'involved' but even those unrelated and hapless onlookers caught in the cross-fire", Joseph Dias added.
Here is The CSF reaction & our demands -
1) Justice Somasekhara needs to withdraw his comments regarding conversion and those, which have hurt the sentiments of Christians, as it is clearly evident that his report was a sham to whitewash the crimes of the BJP government and protect the Hindutva brigade. It has in no way helped the state, it has rather insulted the Christian community by its remarks, served as a justification for hate crimes and breeds enemity among communities.
2) The Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa and then Home Minister, Dr. VS Acharya, who have been indicted should be prosecuted and The CSF will ask permission of the Governor of Karnataka to do so for their direlection of duty. The CSF will also work to ensure that these two politicians, are debarred from entering European, American and other nations for abetting hate crimes against fellow citizens and religious minorities.
3) All indicted police and government officers should be punished, as their crimes come under the "rarest of rare" cases, since they are expected to be upholders of the law and protectors of constitutional rights and not agents of the Hindutva brigade. Their desecration of holy places must be dealt with severely and attacks on victims should be treated as attempt to murder.
4) A Union Home Ministry investigation needs to be carried out into the indiscriminate donations from public funds to only Hindu temples / institutions / mutts amounting to over Rs.3,000 crores reportedly. This does not include the hundreds of Sammelanas and other functions benefitting the Hindu community at public expense, where venom is spewed on others.
5) Confidence building measures need to be initiated by the Union Government, for minorities, who have lost faith in the government willingness and ability to protect them, especially in BJP ruled states or where the party's presence is strong. These have been evidenced and proved from the rise in attacks on the minorities in such states.
6) The CSF will take up with the Supreme and Karnataka High Court, the issue of the subordinate Judiciary of the State, behaving in an unbecoming and discriminatory manner, contrary to its Constitutional mandate.
7) The CSF calls for all individuals indicted to identified and prosecuted against. The false cases against victims need to be withdrawn and adequate compensation be paid forthwith.
6) The CSF will take up with the Supreme and Karnataka High Court, the issue of the subordinate Judiciary of the State, behaving in an unbecoming and discriminatory manner, contrary to its Constitutional mandate.
7) The CSF calls for all individuals indicted to identified and prosecuted against. The false cases against victims need to be withdrawn and adequate compensation be paid forthwith.
Ø Flawed Investigations in the JBKS tailor made report – Anti Christian, biased & mockery
Ø Law to bring Christian places of worship & funding under regulation is suggested
Ø The Govt ordered JBKSC to be wound-up fearing implication of Hindutva outfits
Ø No probe into attacks being part of a wider national militant Hindutva pogrom
Ø Indian army report of Christians on the Hindutva radar based on intelligence
Ø Attacks of such a magnitude is not possible without funds & official support
Ø 28 months & 9 extensions later, it adds insult to injury & salt to wounds
Ø Many Independent enquiries reach diametrically opposite conclusions
Ø State machinery used as an accomplice by Saffron brigade for terror
Ø How much has the JBKSC or BJP’s PR exercise cost the exchequer
Ø Service of missionaries is the motive behind anti-Christian attacks
Ø JBKSCR says BJP government not cold shouldering Christians
Ø JBKSCR says law to protect Hindu religion interests is justified
Ø Limited exoneration of the Catholic Church is a divisive ploy
Ø JBKS runs the risk of being labeled a Hindutva spokesman
Ø JBKSCR alleges instances of conversions by inducement
