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Source: www.assistnews.net Date: September 23, 2007
By James Varghese
Special to ASSIST News Service
 | | Some of the Christian protestors | BANGALORE, INDIA (ANS) -- A group of Christians, led by BJP Member of Parliament, Dr. H.T. Sangliana and Dr. Sajan K. George, President of the advocacy group, Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), held a protest rally against the increasing attacks on Christians on Saturday, September 22, 2007.
According to THE HINDU Newspaper, the Global Council of Indian Christians organized the rally, which started from Trinity Circle. It was supposed to culminate near the Mahatma Gandhi statue, but on the insistence of the police, the protesters stopped near the Brigade Road-M.G. Road junction to avoid confrontation with Sri Rama Sena activists, who were protesting at the same time near the statue. After the rally was stopped, some of demonstrators, including Dr. Sangliana, went to the office of Rameshwar Thakur, the Governor of Karnataka state, and submitted a memorandum. The rally, organized as a protest against what many see as the "alarming increase" of persecution of Christians in the Indian state of Karnataka, began at 8.00 AM and ended up by 10.30 AM. Holding up tri-color flags, the protesters marched peacefully and expressed concern over the growing intolerance against the Christians. On the same day, members of Sri Rama Sena (Ram's Army) alleged that the Christians were trying to create communal tension by organizing the rally and they claimed that Mr. Sangliana was using it to achieve personal goals. The Indo-Asian News Service said that speakers at the rival rally organized by the Hindu Sena (Hindu Army) maintained that Christian missionaries were indulging in conversion activities offering inducements to backward Hindus. "The government must take strict action to end conversions in the state," on of them said.  | | Members of Sri Rama Sena, Hindu Unity Forum and Hindu Jagarana Vedike ( Hindu Forum for Revival) arguing with the police during a protest near Gandhi statue in Bangalore on Saturday | However, the same story said that Sangliana wanted the police to take effective steps to prevent attacks on Christians in the state, adding that the claims of forcible conversion activities by Christians were "bogus and misleading." "If concrete evidence about such forcible conversions were submitted, the Christian leaders would take action against those indulging in such activities," he said. Protesting "atrocities" committed on members of the Christian community in various parts of the state, Dr. Sangliana said perpetrators of the crime must be brought to book. He also demanded that the constitutional guarantee of freedom to practice and propagate one's religion be continued to be extended to Christians who for decades have been peacefully carrying out worship in the state A large posse of policemen was deployed near Mahatma Gandhi statue in the morning. Speaking to ANS, Dr. Sajan K. George of GCIC said, "There have been 70 cases reported of attacks against Christians in the last 18 months. Anti-Christian attacks are rapidly increasing day by day." He asked the people of Karnataka to keep peace in the state, so it could become "the most prosperous state in India." Meanwhile, police have refuted allegations of inaction in the cases of atrocities. "We have looked into the matter and taken action," Mr. Bipin Gopalkrishna, the additional commissioner law and order," was reported as saying. "We are duty bound to provide protection to the minority and are discharging our duty," he added.
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