MANGALORE : Former High Court judge Justice MF Saldanha who has investigated into the attacks on churches throughout the state, has finalized his People’s Enquiry Report and has released its main aspects for public debate.
Justice Saldana is also the Chairman of the Karnataka Chapter of Transparency International and DK Catholic Association and has prepared the report after travelling to various places of the state.
The report states that the government which failed to initiate action against the Bhajrangdal and the VHP despite its leaders claiming responsibility for the simultaneous attacks on churches in several parts of the state including the Milagres in Mangalore on September 14, 2008, by remaining apathetic, has erred by backing these organizations.
Justice Saldanha in his report observes that the call given by an RSS leader in Mangalore two years ago on Vijaya Dashami day stating “ Hindus instead of observing the traditional Ayudha pooja should worship swords and guns and should keep them ready to target minorities,” played an important role in spoiling the tranquility in the district. “Despite myself personally raising this matter with the CM and Home Minister urging for legal action, they failed to do anything,” Justice Saldanha regretted in the report which also said the government inaction duly highlighted the nexus between the government and the fundamentalist organizations and individuals.”
The report also mentioned that the civil society was shocked to note the government apathy by not initiating any action against the guilty though a senior police officer of the rank of ADGP had reported that the then SP Satish Kumar and inspectors Jayanth Shetty and MK Ganapathi were the accused in the church attack cases. “The government which ought to have initiated disciplinary action against the guilty officials instead by promoting one of them, has added salt to injury,” the report said.

Report highlights :
1. The police by registering criminal cases against Christians who were shattered by the church attacks, did more injustice to those who suffered injustice. Moreover even the lower division courts by denying bails to them, abetted with the police.
2) Most of the newspapers worked as blind followers of the Sangh Parivar, the result of which was that the government was issuing big budget advertisements to these newspapers, at the cost of the treasury. The government targeted ‘ Karavali Ale’ which condemned the church attacks and the government policies. The government which sent the newspaper chief BV See behind bars even colluded with anti-social forces which targeted the newspaper’s circulation network. Even the Udupi magistrate has erred by denying bail to BV See on the spot, despite him being arrested due to the ploy of the home minister. The judges of Mangalore courts which permitted the police to issue series of body warrants against BV See even while he was in the jail ward of Mysore hospital, has not recognized the freedom of the independent media in a democracy.’ (Justice Saldanha in his elaborate report, has allocated , a 20-page chapter to explain the injustice done to Karavali Ale by the government and the parivar organizations backed by the ruling party)
3. The BJP government has booked 468 Christian leaders on different charges, all over the state. Even the home Ministry had issued notices to all police stations in the state, to book Christians and then torture them in custody and also not to book any cases against Bhajrangdal and Parivar men.
4) The government itself is seeing to it that there was sufficient flow of finance to the Sangh Parivar organizations. Of the several thousands of crores donated as grants to various projects, mutts and conferences, a good chunk helps in increasing the bank balance of the Parivar men.
5) The turmoil prevailing in the coastal region today, is much worser than the situations that existed in Gujarat and Orissa.

Related news:

1. Justice Saldanha blames Yeddy, VSA for church attacks
2. Somasekhara Panel report dishonest, says Justice Saldanha
3. Interim report on church attack is ready
4. ‘Home Minister responsible for anarchy in state’ Justice Saldanha’s open letter to VSA
5. Somasekara panel report- a bundle of lies : Justice Saldanha