Bangalore (AsiaNews) - Christians in Bangalore held a massive protest against the Somasekhar Commission's report, considered one-sided and biased, into the series of attacks on churches and Christian places of worship in Mangalore in 2008 and several other districts of Karnataka. (02/21/2011 Mangalore Christians march to demand justice in attacks on churches).

The protest was organized under the banner of Karnataka United Christian Forum for Human Rights (Kucfhr), opposite the cathedral of St. Francis Xavier, and was attended by more than 30 thousand people. The rally was followed by a candlelight vigil. Karnataka United Christian Forum for Human Rights. The Archbishop of Bangalore, Mgr. Bernard Moras, who is also chairman of Kucfhr, opened the meeting by explaining the reasons that led Christians to demonstrate and illustrate the sequence of events that began with the attacks on churches in 2008. (Photo: A Gospel burned).

The Archbishop pointed out that persecution of the minority community, especially the Christians, started since the change of government after the May 2008 Assembly elections. The series of well-planned, simultaneous and brutal attacks against Churches and places of worship belonging to Christians that began on September 13 and 14, 2008 in Mangalore, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and other districts, including Bangalore and Kolar, went on till October 2008 and have been continuino since the Bjp (Bharatiya Janata Party) came to power. The Archbishop said the ruling BJP that celebrated its 1000 days in office Sunday, February 20, has earned the dubious distinction of the State witnessing an attack against Christians or their Churches almost every third day.

“This is in sharp contrast to the brotherly relationship and communal harmony that prevailed in the State between people of different religions in Karnataka until the BJP came to power,” he said pointing out that the law abiding nature and peaceful disposition along with the meekness of Christians was interpreted as a weakness”, noted the Archbishop.