Media Release
Bangalore, Mar 13: Over 650 Catholics belonging to around 17 Konkani Catholics organizations participated in a demonstration in front of Kittel’s Statue, on MG Road in Bangalore, demanding the naming of the Minority University in Srirangapatna after Kittel.
The participant’s held banners asking specific questions to literary giants like, professor U R Ananthmurthy, Dr Girish Karnad, professor Chidanandamurthy, professor GK Govinda Rao and Bargur Ramachandrappa.
The demonstration on March 10 was the first public demonstration opposing the name of Tippu.
The next public demonstration will be by over 85 Catholics from various districts in Karnataka, in New Delhi on March 18 and March 19 presenting a memorandum to the Prime Minister and Rahul Gandhi, seeking the withdrawal of the proposal of naming of the University after Tippu.
At the same time they would also be told that if the central government and the Congress decide to even change the proposal from Tippu to Santhan to shishunaal Shariff or Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s name.
"The Prime Minister and Rahul Gandhi are going to be told in uncertain terms that if they do not bother to understand the hurt feelings of the Christians, we will definitely not be mute spectators, if the Congress party goes ahead with the current decision then surely Christians of the coastal area will think before voting in upcoming Assembly elections," the members stated.
Social activist T G Abraham ,vice chairman of FKCA, Edward D'Souza and general secretary Robert Cutinho and past chairman Charles Gomes and office bearers of FKCA, presidents of all association were present.