Mangaluru: ‘We are born Indians, will die Indians’, Stop attacking the churches’, ‘Live and let live’, ‘Stop assault on Christians’- Hundreds of Christians holding placards gathered in front of DC office here on Friday to protest against the continuous attacks on their faith across India.
The protest was organised by the Mangaluru Diocese to condemn the attacks against Christians. Roman Lobo, social and yourth rights activist, speaking on the occasion said, “All over India, Christians are being assaulted and our churches have been targeted. During elections politicians take our votes and tag us with conversion. If the allegations of conversion was true, the population would have doubled but it has not. Today all the political parties are same. If they were supportive, why have they have not taken any action against these atrocities?, he asked.
As many as 7,000 cases of atrocities have been reported against minorities in 2014 as per the survey done by the Catholic Sabha, and 396 religious centers were attacked across India. Even in Karnataka, in the last nine months, there were more than 100 cases of attacks on minorities according to the Komu Souhardha Vedike. Even after several attacks on churches and Christians, our central government has not taken any strong action. The continued attacks indicate that there is a planned strategy behind this, he alleged.
A factually inaccurate Somashekar report was submitted on the Mangaluru Church attacks in 2008. The commission was formed out of our tax money. When J R Lobo asked to investigate with a fresh probe, many representatives stopped him and said now its a closed case.
While speaking about Mother Teresa’s service towards the needy, he said she worked for the sick and downtrodden without expecting anything in return. She did not convert people but she transformed them by her service. Likewise, service by christians is misinterpreted. We have provided education, health service and many more. But in return what are we getting? Being accused of conversion?. Till now we were silent and peaceful. For no reason if are attacked for our faith, we won’t tolerate. We will come out and hold massive protest, he asserted.
Nelson Monis, while addressing the gathering said we have been threatened and shamed in the social media. The more you threaten us, the stronger we will become. Recently our PM said, India is our religion and constitution is our holy book. It should not be a mere statement but should be reality. We are a secular nation. We have the right to follow and preach any religion. If our constitution allows us, who are they to question us.
Christians have strived to stop Devdasi system and work for the poor and needy. Recently there was a statement that mosques and churches are just a buildings. You can destroy our churches, you can destroy us but not our principles and values. For these atrocities we were prepared 2000 years ago. He quoted Mathew’s gospel, where Jesus said “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” So we must be alert and fight for our rights when they attack our faith.
The protesters also demanded a CBI probe into recent Bengal nun gangrape incident. A memorandum will be submitted to Prime minister in this regard.
Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu, Fr Robert Crasta, advocate M P Noronha, Konkani Sahitya Academy president Roy Castelino, many diocesan priests, religious leaders and hundreds of people gathered for the protest.
