SAR News
Bangalore, Mar 4: Christians in Karnataka have alleged blatant discriminations against the community members by the State government.
At an interactive meeting with P.K. Hormis Tharakan, an advisor to Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur, March 1, at St. Mark's Cathedral here, Christian leaders and institution heads from across Karnataka raised among several issues the injustices Christians have been facing in the State.
A participant at the meeting organised by Karnataka Christians Social Welfare Association observed, "Christians in Karnataka have been meted out a step-motherly treatment by the State government."
A Christian tahsildar (district official) complained about discrimination in appointments and promotions. He alleged his name had been "removed from the interview and promotion lists several times".
A woman employee in the Minorities Department said she was shunted out for "refusing to take bribes and for communicating information about privileges to the Christian community".
The governor's advisor was also apprised of the discriminatory attitude of the state police. Several participants noted that the police department refused to file complaints in cases involving violent attacks on Christians and their places of worship by Hindu extremists.
Authorities at the Sumanahalli leprosarium run by Catholic nuns in Bangalore were being harassed by the government officials over their land, Sister Mary Mascarehnas informed Tharakan.
Complaints also ranged from individual institutions concerning land acquisition by the government to personal grievances against the law, police and social welfare departments.
Makkala Sahaya Vani (child helpline) founder Brinda Adige, submitting a memorandum, told Tharakan that she was hounded out by the bureaucrats in the Child Welfare Department. Another petitioner said Christians had to wait for 32 days for marriage certificates, while others got it immediately.
Observing that there were complaints on the personal, institutional and community level, Tharakan responded: "I see there are many grievances that need redressal and I assure you that I will take it to the governor. There are some grievances that need to be studied in greater detail and may need more facts and figures for which I will await."
Retired Director General of Police, Karnataka, F.T.R Colaso, Archbishop Emeritus Ignatius Pinto, Methodist Bishop Taranath Sagar, Dorairaju, IAS (Retd.), retired Navy Admiral Stan Dawson, former principal of Mount Carmel College, Sister Genevieve, president of the Indian Catholic Press Association, Father Adolf Washington, Mount Carmel College principal Juanita, Jyoti Nivas College principal Philomena, retired secretary to the Government of India, Sunder Thomas, and others attended the meeting.