While giving a clean-chit to pro-Hindu organisations, a one-man commission constituted to probe the series of attacks on churches in Karnataka, recommended the state government to enact an anti-conversion law.
While giving a clean-chit to pro-Hindu organisations, a one-man commission constituted to probe the series of attacks on churches in Karnataka, recommended the state government to enact an anti-conversion law.
The justice BK Somasekhara commission of inquiry submitted its final report to chief minister BS Yeddyurappa on Friday. The opposition termed the report as biased and unfair.
Besides ruling out the roles of BJP and Sangh Parivar in the attacks, the report said the offenders were “misguided fundamentalists of defined or undefined groups or organisations against Christians and Christianity.” The attackers had presumed that they would have the protection of the ruling party, the report said.
“There is no basis to the apprehension of petitioners that politicians, BJP, Sangha Parivar and the state government are directly or indirectly involved in the attacks. In fact no politician or representative of any political party in the state has appeared before the commission and submitted views,” it said.
The circulation of inflammatory literature insulting Hindu gods and issues of conversion were the main reasons behind the attacks, the commission said.
It also stated that the Roman Catholic churches or its members were not involved in conversions. But there are clear indications of conversions to Christianity in Bangalore, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Bellary, Davangere, Chikkamagalur and Udupi by a few organisations and self-styled or self-appointed pastors.
The report added that these pastors continued as Hindus to get the benefits of law. They lured others into Christianity by using unaccounted local funds or funds from foreign countries.
The commission recommended the government to enact an anti-conversion law to stop conversions happening in few districts. It pointed out that the attack on churches affected the harmonious co-existence of Hindus and Christians.
Chief minister BS Yeddyurappa said action would be taken based on the report, after the law and home ministries examine it.
“We will table the report before the legislature and take action to implement the recommendations by justice BK Somasekhara commission,” he added.
Home minister R Ashoka and Law minister S Suresh Kumar were also present when the report was submitted to the chief minister.
Terming the report as biased and unfair, the opposition said the commission had badly let down the Christian community. The commission had failed to identify the exact reasons and persons behind the attacks.
The commission, set up on September 19, 2008, examined 56 incidents of attacks on churches. It submitted an interim report on February 1, 2010.
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