Daijiworld Media Network- Karwar (RX)
Karwar, March 4: Thousands of Christians from all over the district of Uttar Kannada participated in the mammoth silent protest rally organized by the Catholic Diocese of Karwar, here on Thursday, March 3.
The rally was organized to oppose and reject the report of Justice Somashekar commission and also to demand handing over the investigation to the CBI. The protesters tied black ribbons across their mouth, carried black flags and wore black clothes, symbolizing a protest against the report submitted to the government recently by Justice Somashekara.
Hundreds of placards carried by the people displayed silently the intention of the rally. Some of the demands of the protesters were that Justice Somashekar commission report be rejected, that all the cases registered against innocent victims of Christian community be unconditionally withdrawn, that the government institute an impartial inquiry by CBI, for the payment of just compensation to the damaged places and persons at the earliest and to ensure that the constitutional guarantees to the minority community are provided in letter and spirit.
More than 10,000 protesters participated in the rally that began from the Cathedral of our Lady of Assumption Church, Kajubag, Karwar at 3.30 pm after praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. The procession was led by bishop of Karwar, Dr Derek Fernandes, accompanied by the vicar general of the diocese Msgr Simon Tellis and the priests, nuns and the faithful.
Hundreds of motor-bike riders carrying black flags also joined the procession. The procession winded its way through the main streets of Karwar town and congregated at the office of Deputy Commissioner to present the memorandum.
Bishop Derek Fernandes read out the memorandum to the public and handed the same to the DC of Uttar Kannada who assured the people that the same will be forwarded to the Governor of Karnataka with a copy to the Chief Minister of Karnataka.
Speaking to the press after the submission of the memorandum about the Justice Somashekar report, bishop Derek said that Justice Somashekar commission was instituted to find out as to who attacked Christians; but the commission practically has come out with an answer that ‘No one attacked Christians’. If the government was really interested in finding the truth it should have conceded to the request of Christians for a CBI enquiry instead of the disappointing commission enquiry.