03-02-2007, 02:20 AM
Karnataka Government accused of `anti-minority bias'
Special Correspondent
Panel listens to views of representatives of minority communities
BANGALORE: Several representatives of Muslims and Christians on Thursday complained to the National Commission for Minorities that the Karnataka Government had what they termed an "anti-minority bias." They said their confidence was low and they were feeling insecure after the recent communal riots in Mangalore and parts of Bangalore.
The representatives of minorities, especially Muslims, spoke about the problems they are faced with, at a meeting with members of the commission, who were in Bangalore to hear their views on law and order, development programmes and other subjects.
Several Muslim leaders charged the police with taking sides during the communal violence. They alleged that lower-level officials of the Police Department had supported attacks against them. Compensation was yet to be paid to some of those injured in police firing, they said and submitted to the Commission a CD containing views of the victims of communal violence.
The leaders of minorities, including religious heads, demanded that the Police Department recruit Muslims and Christians in proportion to their population. Such a step would make the police force neutral, they said.
Christian leaders took serious exception to the recent decision by the State Cabinet to withdraw nearly 30 cases booked against those charred with inciting violence during the protests against the prayer meeting addressed by the U.S.-based evangelist Benny Hinn in Bangalore in 2005. Father Ambrose Pinto, principal of St. Joseph's College, Bangalore, charged the Government with showing a "terrible anti-minority bias." In addition to the communal violence, raking up of contentious issues such as Bababudangiri were also causing communal tension every year, he said.
Meets Chief Minister
Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities M.H. Ansari called on Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who explained the various steps taken by the Government to safeguard the interests of minorities.
Special Correspondent
Panel listens to views of representatives of minority communities
BANGALORE: Several representatives of Muslims and Christians on Thursday complained to the National Commission for Minorities that the Karnataka Government had what they termed an "anti-minority bias." They said their confidence was low and they were feeling insecure after the recent communal riots in Mangalore and parts of Bangalore.
The representatives of minorities, especially Muslims, spoke about the problems they are faced with, at a meeting with members of the commission, who were in Bangalore to hear their views on law and order, development programmes and other subjects.
Several Muslim leaders charged the police with taking sides during the communal violence. They alleged that lower-level officials of the Police Department had supported attacks against them. Compensation was yet to be paid to some of those injured in police firing, they said and submitted to the Commission a CD containing views of the victims of communal violence.
The leaders of minorities, including religious heads, demanded that the Police Department recruit Muslims and Christians in proportion to their population. Such a step would make the police force neutral, they said.
Christian leaders took serious exception to the recent decision by the State Cabinet to withdraw nearly 30 cases booked against those charred with inciting violence during the protests against the prayer meeting addressed by the U.S.-based evangelist Benny Hinn in Bangalore in 2005. Father Ambrose Pinto, principal of St. Joseph's College, Bangalore, charged the Government with showing a "terrible anti-minority bias." In addition to the communal violence, raking up of contentious issues such as Bababudangiri were also causing communal tension every year, he said.
Meets Chief Minister
Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities M.H. Ansari called on Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who explained the various steps taken by the Government to safeguard the interests of minorities.