Somsekhara panel report vague, contradictory: Bishop

Many assns criticise report while Pejavar seer, MP hail it

In a sharp reaction against the report, the Bishop regretted that the report has failed to recommend action against perpetrators and for its failure to give relief to the aggrieved Christian community.

“The B K Somsekhara commission report says that the Roman Catholic Church is not indulged in conversion activities either through force, deceit, inducement or any other form. Yet, it is regrettable that the Commission failed to recommend any action on those who were responsible for carrying out atrocities on Adoration Monastery and other places of worship of Roman Catholic Church,” he said in a press release.

Taking a dig at the Commission for not proposing any action against the police atrocities, he said that it is surprising to see that no action is recommended against the police who have exercised excessive power without following legal requirement and violating religious interest and human rights.

“It is unacceptable to say that the organisation like Bajrang Dal should be registered and those activities should be carried out as per law and at the same time to implicate only the convener of the said organisation in church attacks and leave out the organisation without making it responsible,” he further added.

M P Noronha flays

In a separate press release, M P Noronha, the main advocate for Christian memorialist, said that it is deeply disappointing that a Commission after working for two years has no strong conclusions on key questions such as “why the attacks happened,” “who was behind it” and the question of the responsibility of the State government for the attacks.
Stating that the report has failed in establishing the “whole truth” with respect to the church attacks and uncovering the role of the miscreants inspite of ample evidence before it, Noronha expressed apprehensions about the credibility of the entire report.

Meanwhile, Noronha clarified that as per the Supreme Court ruling, the report of the enquiry commission is only of recommendery in nature and it is not binding either on the Government or on the parties to the enquiry commission. “Hence findings of the Commission cannot be treated as a court judgement.”

Key witness regrets

Rev Fr Valerian Pinto, the parish priest of Cordel church and one of the key witnesses to the church attacks, said that though the Bajrang Dal role was clearly evident in the attacks, it was unfortunate that no action has been proposed against the association.

On the other hand, despite the fact that the police themselves have agreed in the Court of Inquiry for using excess force, the Commission has failed to propose any action against the police.

Pejavar seer hails

Pejawar Mutt seer Vishweshatheertha Swamiji while welcoming the report, said that the report has proved that Sangh Parivar members do not indulge in violence. “The report might help in overcoming the false propaganda against the Sangh Parivar,” he said and added that contrary to the allegations levelled by the members of Shiv Sena and Ram Sena that the VHP and Sangh Parivar have failed in protecting the interests of the Hindus, the Commission report has strengthened the belief that VHP and Sangh Parivar will not indulge in such incidents. While RSS State leader Dr K Prabhakar Bhat termed the report as a victory to the justice, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel termed it as an answer to the Opposition criticisms. “At least henceforth, let the Congress and the JD(S) quit cheap politics and react after learning the truth,” he said.

Far from truth

Christain Federation (Udupi) President Louis Lobo said the report is ‘partial’. Referring to the clean chit given by the Commission to the Bajrang Dal, he said the Commission might have been pressurised by the BJP government. “Owing to the pressure from the government, the Commission has submitted a report which is far from truth. We will not accept the report,” he said.

Terming the attack on churches as “organised,” Minorities Forum (Udupi) Vice President Dr Cyril Mathias said that everyone knows that Bajrang Dal members were behind the attack. “However, the government has withdrawn all the cases against Bajrang Dal members, while it has retained cases pending against Christian youth.”

Meanwhile, Vincent Alva of International Christian Federation said that the Federation had expected a similar report. “It is a joke to say that Sangh Parivar and the BJP were not part of the attack,” he said and added that they must have fabricated the report according to their wish as the BJP government is ruling the State.