State govt told to reject Somasekara report

 These organisations are planning to file writ petitions in the Supreme Court and the Karnataka High Court against the findings and recommendations of the Commission.

Expressing their anguish and hurt, community leaders, including Justice (Rtd) Michael Saldanha, Swami Agnivesh, Nafisa Ali, John Dayal (member, National Integration Council), Joseph Dias (Catholic Secular Forum)  and Abraham Mathai (vice-chairman, Maharashtra Minorities Commission) demanded the Center’s intervention in the matter and asked the National Commission for Minorities’  team to visit the state.

Addressing a press conference, they said that an independent report by retired high court Judge Michael Saldanha would be submitted to the Governor and the Chief Minister for their consideration. The report has held the police, BJP and Sangh Parivar leaders guilty of the attacks. Justice Saldanha also accused the government of rewarding police officers who were involved in attacks.  

They also took strong exception of such findings of the commission which accused Christians of mass conversions and criticised the recommendation seeking the formation of a body to regulate Christian organisations.

Swami Aganivesh accused the government of blackmailing the Somashekara Commission to concoct a report favorable to it because his interim report had indicted the administration and the political leadership. “The extensions given to the commission were conditional,” he added.