Bangalore: CM promises to curb moral policing, expedite Fr K J Thomas murder probe

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Feb 3: Vowing to put down moral policing or attempts to disturb communal harmony and peace by anti-social elements or fundamentalist forces with a heavy hand, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has promised to expedite investigation into the gruesome murder of Fr K J Thomas, Rector of St Peter’s Pontifical Seminary in Bangalore in April last year, and bring the culprits to book.

He was addressing a massive gathering of Federation of Konkani Catholic Associations (FKCA) in Bangalore on Sunday after conferring FKCA’s prestigious awards on three eminent personalities – Leslie Joseph Fernandes, philanthropist and ex-chairman, Dockendale Shipping Company, for life-time achievement; Richard G Louis, film and stage actor, TV artist, for professional excellence; and Benedict Machado, director Ace Group of Companies, entrepreneur of the year.
 
The Chief Minister, who arrived at the venue along with his ministerial colleagues B Ramalinga Reddy (Transport), U T Khader (Health and Family Planning) and V S Ugrappa (former Opposition leader, State Legislative Council), warmly appreciated the contribution of Christians in the fields of education, healthcare and social service and also for their discipline, integrity and hard work and assured that his government was committed to ensure full protection and security to all sections of people, especially the religious and linguistic minorities and the downtrodden sections.
 
''Moral policing will not be allowed in any part of the State nor any attempts to disrupt communal peace and harmony or dilute secularism,” he said asserting that protection of law and order and ensuring the safety and security of the people was the bounden duty of the government. Equal opportunity and equitable distribution were rights of all sections of society, particularly the dalits, weaker sections, women and minorities.
 
The murder of Fr K J Thomas on April 1 last year was under investigation, he said and made it clear that he would not like divulge details or speak anything about the case until the investigation. However, he assured Archbishop Bernard Moras, who too had raised the issue with him, and said he will hold discussions with the police officers handling the investigation to ensure that the culprits were brought to justice soon.

Referring to FKCA chairperson Aida D’Cunha’s demand to ensure that the promise given by former BJP Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa in 2009 on granting 1 acre of land for building a community hall and other activities, Siddaramaiah said he would try to allot sufficiently big CA site or any other plot at the earliest possible and positively consider nomination of eminent persons from the community for boards and corporations.

However, he said he was not in a position to make any commitment regarding appointment of educationists from the community as vice chancellor for any of the universities in the State as the process was governed by special norms and guidelines. ''If there are any suitable candidates from the community in the panel of names identified by the search committees of the universities concerned, I assure you that due weightage will be given to such persons,” he said.

Health and Family Minister U T Khader lauded the contribution of the Christian community for the social, educational, healthcare and religious progress and development of the State, especially the coastal region and urged the community not to be discouraged by opposition or obstacles by obscurantist elements.

Archbishop of Bangalore Dr Bernard Moras, in his presidential address, said the fear psychosis that pervaded the Christian community and other sections of minorities in the recent past has now disappeared. He exhorted the community leaders to serve society, especially the poorer and maginalised sections of society without any discrimination of caste, creed or colour.

''We must always remember that the service and contributions will be remembered even after death as nobody will be able to take their possessions or wealth with them when they die,” he said.
 
Bishop Dr Henry D’Souza of Bellary Diocese exhorted Christians to serve humankind with an open heart and mind without any discrimination of caste, creed or colour and emulate the example of the awardees in serving society.
 
FKCA Chairperson Aida Margaret D’Cunha welcomed the gathering and also urged the chief minister to  take steps for exepediting investigation into the murder of Fr K J Thomas 10 months ago and punish the culprits, prevent attacks against Chrisitians and other minorities and also their places of worship and put an end to moral policing, ensure appointment of eminent persons from the community to the Christian Development Board and other boards and corporations, Karnataka Public Service Commission as also as vice chancellors to the universities in the State considering the immense contribution of the community in the educational field and take steps to establish a separate development corporation for the Christians as the benefits of the existing State Minorities Development Corporation were not easily available to the community.

She suggested that pending the creation of a separate development corporation for the Christians, the government should ensure that the existing minority development corporation must be asked to allocate 30 per cent of its funds for the community.

FKCA General Secretary Dolphy Pinto presented copies of the report of the activities of the Federation to the dignitaries. Ms Irene D’Souza proposed a vote of thanks.