Kalmady Church Banner Row - Christian Federation, Komu Souharda Vedike Demand Justice
Pics: Ivan Mascarenhas
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SM)
Udupi, Dec 27: The International Federation of Karnataka Christian Associations together with Komu Souharda Vedike and other like-minded organizations staged a protest at SP office here on Thursday December 27 demanding action against Bajrang Dal activists who created ruckus over a banner at Kalmady Church on Wednesday December 26.
They also urged withdrawal of the FIR filed by Bajrang Dal against Fr Alban D'Souza, parish priest of Stella Maris Church, Kalmady over the banner issue.
The activists of Bajrang Dal had on Wednesday protested against the banner depicting Vailankanni and a Brahmin boy put up at Stella Maris Church. Despite the removal of the banner and apology from the parish priest, an FIR was lodged against him later in the day.
The memorandum demanded withdrawal of the FIR and alleged that about 200 people belonging to Bajrang Dal barged into the premises of Kalmady Church and used abusive
language against the parish priest.
The memorandum also questioned police action of asking the Church to remove the banner and filing FIR against the parish priest, instead of lodging complaint against the Bajrang Dal activists.
Secondly, the protestors alleged in the memorandum that of late, pamphlets with 'Om' printed on them had been pasted at several places in Udupi. These pamphlets contain matter that are allegedly against the sentiments of Muslims and Christians, the memorandum stated, adding that as there was no name of the organization that printed the pamphlets, it was illegal and action should be taken against whoever printed them.
The protestors also demanded action against the policemen who resorted to lathi charge against members of CPI(M) who protested against Made Snana and caste discrimination on Thursday at Udupi.
President of Komu Souharda Vedike G Rajashekar said that the people of Udupi had lost trust in police. Jayant Malpe said that Udupi had witnessed several incidents in the past where police had not taken any action against offenders of law. He also alleged clear support from Udupi Maths to police in Thursday's lathi charge on CPI (M) protestors.
Louis Lobo of IFKCA said that police assured that they would not take any action against Kalmady Church or the parish priest on the FIR filed by Bajrang Dal, and thanked the police for the same. However, Jayant Malpe refused to believe in the police assurance.
Organizations like Karnataka Dalit Sangharsha Samiti, district minority forum, Jamath-e-Islami Hind, Catholic Sabha, SIO, PFI and others took part.