Thu, 04/02/2010 - 7:41am Ban RSS,VHP,Bajrang Dal and Sena-Karntaka leaders

MYSORE: Opposition leader Siddaramaiah on Tuesday sought dismissal of the Yeddyurappa government in the state if the chief minister fails to resign
on moral grounds in the wake of the justice B K Somashekara commission report which has reportedly indicted BJP government for attacks on churches and worship places in the state.

He said his party is planning to launch a state-wide agitation and the decision on this front will be taken on Wednesday after a discussions . He said in addition to the dismissal of the BJP government they will also pressurize the Centre to ban BJP's frontal organizations like RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal and Sri Rama Sene as recommended by the commission.

Reading out parts of the interim report submitted by the commission, he said the commission in its findings has made out serious charges against the government and held it responsible for attacks on churches and other places of worship.

Thu, 04/02/2010 - 11:13am Church Vandalized by anti christian outfits in Karnataka

Mandya district, Karnataka:Church Vandalized by anti Christians

Mandya district, Karnataka: 60 year old St Mathias Church in Malavalli of Mandya district, Karnataka was vandalized on the 4th February 2010.

According to the GCIC sources around 2:30 am, a group of anti Christian miscreants broke open the church’s main door and window before destroying all the statues. The radicals desecrated the church cross, defiled the Blessed Sacrament .The savage attackers have not spared the musical instruments and other valuables.

The parish priest in charge, Rev.M.Anthappa was informed by the members of the parish that the church vandalized and on arrival from Bangalore , filed a complaint at the Malavalli Police Station. The police promptly filed an FIR on the basis of the complaint and promised investigation.
According to GCIC sources a local doctor found some youngsters moving around the church in a suspicious way and the neighbours tried to contact the police at about 10.30pm without success.

Thu, 04/02/2010 - 4:52pm Cross desecreated in Andhra Pradesh

Holy Cross mounted on Madiga Konda of Katrenipadu village of Musunur Mandal , Krishna district, was desecrated on 1st February.
Past 15 years, Christians were worshipping the 25 feet height Holy Cross. The Local elders obtained permission . Local government authorities had no objection to erect a renovated cross on the mountain on 23rd Jan-2010 .
More than 6000 pilgrims attended the cross dedication service on 26/01/2010 in the presence of the authorities and all media, but the cross was found demolished on 1st February.. The Christian community members (Gurindapalli Chittibabu Madiga ) are deeply hurt by the desecration of cross and consider this as an attack on Christian faith.
The villagers have Condemned the demolition of Holy Cross mounted on Madiga Konda of Katrenipadu village of Musunur Mandal , Krishnadist
A case is filed in Musunur Police Station wide FIR no 15/2010. Dated 02/02/2010

Thu, 04/02/2010 - 9:40pm European union team interacted with kandhamal Christians

BHUBANESWAR: An 11-member European Union (EU) team on Thursday (4th Feb)interacted with riot victims in Orissa's Kandhamal district to find about the situation in the region and heard their accounts, police and eyewitnesses said.

Several victims of the riots apprised the visiting team about the steps the state government has taken for their rehabilitation and the difficulties they are currently facing.

The team members, led by EU's counsellor (head of political affairs) Christophe Manet, visited several affected villages and rehabilitation camps and saw the restoration work carried out by government and private agencies. They also gave the victims a patient hearing.

An eyewitness said that tribals danced to the tune of their traditional music and welcomed the delegation at Nandagiri, a riot-hit village, showering flower petals on the delegates. He said that the team also visited a church nearby.

"The government kept us in relief camps... provided food... provided us land... and helped us to build our houses," a victim told the delegation.

Some people, including women, were in tears while narrating the hardships they went through and their plight in the aftermath of the violence to the team.

Sushama Digal, a woman standing along with over a dozen women at G. Udayagiri village, said: "We are still facing trouble. People are still threatening us."

The delegation will also meet local police and district officials and representatives of NGOs working in the region.

The team, which comprises members from Spain, Hungary, Poland, Ireland, Finland, Sweden and Britain, had earlier met top police officials, Christian leaders and social activists in Orissa capital before heading for Kandhamal.

"Events in Kandhamal had their impact in Europe. Our visit is a reflection of the concern," a member of the team told select mediapersons here.
Kandhamal, about 200 km from here, witnessed widespread violence after the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his aides at his ashram Aug 23, 2008.
VHP and Bajrang Dal activists staged protests at the Biju Patnaik airport on Tuesday night when the EU team arrived here, saying the visit will only flare up the situation in Kandhamal. There was, however, no such protest in any part of Kandhamal