THE Justice H.K. Somashekara Commission of Enquiry that probed the incidents of attack on a few churches in various parts of Karnataka state in early 2008 has come out with some alarming revelations including the silent mass conversion undertaken by some Christian missionary organisations in the state.
While the Commission has given a clean chit to the Sangh Pariwar with a logical, convincing, and credible explanation, the observations made by the Commission expose the double-standards and hypocrisy of some so-called intellectuals who claim to be secular but in reality and practice they are actually pseudo-secularist.
Giving an objective and unbiased dimension to the report, the Commission states that the activities of some organisations like Bajrang Dal needs to be identified and ensured that they are brought under legal control. The Commission also accepts the plea of some Christian organisations to initiate action against Mahendra Kumar, the then chief of Bajrang Dal, who had justified the attacks on the churches.
The Commission clarified that though Mahendra Kumar had justified the attacks, Bajrang Dal is, however, not involved in the incidents. “He (Mahendra Kumar) justified the attack and sought to claim for what he or his organisation did not do (perpetrating the attack). The Commission recommends for action against Mahendra Kumar for justifying the attack on the churches as we believe that attack on religious places of any denomination is bad and wrong,” Justice Somashekara has stated.
The report confirmed that some of these Christian missionary organisations are indeed getting funds from foreign countries and misuse it for mass conversion of innocent and helpless members of society belonging to weaker section.
In its 656-page report submitted to Karnataka chief minister B.S.Yeddyurappa recently, the report also stated that the proposal of many Hindu religious people for enacting a suitable legislation to prevent practices detrimental to the interests of Hindu religion is totally justified.
“It is most probably true that Christians are indulging in mischievous activities by commercialising or inducements and by using their literature maligning the Hindu religion, Hindu ancient systems, Hindu sacred beliefs, practices and sentiments,” the report stated.
Although Justice Somashekara is not explicit about the exact source of income of the pastors, the report, however, states that there is a need for a stringent check and audit of the activities of pastors.
This suggestion made by one of the advocate, Satishchandra that the activities of the pastors and their financial source needs to be kept under watch as well as probed is totally justified and it is accepted, the head of the one-man commission said, unequivocally while writing the verdict.
In a recommendation which can have a far-reaching consequences on the activities of the church – and would be surely opposed by the powerful Church lobby – Justice Somashekara stated that it is necessary to bring Christian places of worship under some legislation like Hindus and Muslims in the country for proper regulation and control within the meaning of Article 25 of the Constitution. “This is a well-meaning suggestion and the Commission not only accepts but also strongly recommends it to the state government,” the report stated.
What is significant is that the Commission ruled out the involvement of the sangh pariwar and the state government directly or indirectly. “Infact, no politician or representative of any political party in the state who politicised the incidents of attack for their benefits immediately after the incidents came before the commission with their affidavits or to give evidence or opinion in the matter,” the report stated.
These findings clearly nails the hit-and-rain tactics and the campaign of calumny adopted by the opponents of Hindutva as every single individual and organisation belonging to this Hate-Sangh brigade pounced on the BJP government for engineering the attacks. So much so, the forces inimical to the sangh pariwar, with the help of a few electronic media houses (kept-intellectuals of the left and pseudo-secular forces) played out the attack at the international level which made the Global Christian Council come out with a statement condemning the BJP government.
Commenting on the attacks per se on churches, the Commission’s findings are interesting as well as eye-opener about the mischievous intention of the vested interests among the Christians. The report stated, “Some incidents of attack are true; some attacks are self-inflicted; some attacks are make-believe; some attacks are blown out of proportion and some attacks are politicised.”
What the Commission has not said explicitly but meant clearly and is eloquent is that there could be a possibility of some Christian members causing damage to their own churches in order to malign the Sangh Pariwar as well as later claim compensation.
Though the Commission notes that the Roman Catholic churches are not involved in the conversion, it, however, unequivocally states that there are clear indications of conversions to Christianity in the districts of Bangalore, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Bellary, Davana-gere, Chickamagalur and Udupi by a few organisations and self-styled or self-appointed pastors by using funds received from abroad with the methodology of inducements and allurements if not coercion and threat.
Yet another significant recommendation of the Commission is that legislations through special law within the competence of the state under the lists of the constitution may be passed to ensure that prevention of atrocities on any person in the name of religion in any form. The proposed law may be called “prevention and punishments for atrocities on the religions and faiths Act, 2011” with rules for immediate implementation through an Ordinance. This, according to a few social scientists who wished to remain anonymous, is aimed at curbing conversion in the name of freedom of propagating religion, though the commission, for some reasons, preferred to be not explicit. However, Christian memorialists maintain that this proposed act is to regulate the activities of Sangh Pariwar organisations such as Bajrang Dal and Sri Ram Sena. RSS has already clarified that Sri Ram Sena is not an outfit of Sangh Pariwar and there is no role of the Bajrang Dal in any of the attacks. That leaves the only obvious force that indulges in conversion and hence the proposed legislation as recommended by the Commission is aimed against conversion by Christian missionaries.
Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa has promised that the recommendations of the Commission aimed at strengthening social and communal harmony; strengthen the bonhomie and camaraderie among the Hindus and Christians will be implemented in letter and spirit.
“The BJP government under my leadership will walk that extra mile to see that all section of society irrespective of their caste, religion, mode of worship and creed-live peacefully in the spirit of brotherhood as one children of Mother India,” he said.
