Krishna makes a promise to Christians

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, JULY 9. In a show of solidarity with the Christians, who are agitated over the bomb blast at a church in Hubli on Saturday, the Chief Minister, Mr. S. M. Krishna, visited St. Mary's Basilica at Shivajinagar in Bangalore to convey the message that his Government would not forgive the perpetrators of the crime.

The Chief Minister took the pulpit after the Archbishop of Bangalore, the Most Rev. Ignatius Pinto, had said that they would pardon the culprits, to say that that unlike the Church leaders who were large hearted, the Government would not forgive those who were guilty. He had taken to the purpit to convey the message of love and also that the law and order would be maintained at any cost.

Addressing the Sunday morning congregation at one of the oldest churches in the State, which has the status of a Basilica, Mr. Krishna alleged that there was a conspiracy behind the attacks on the churches in Wadi and Hubli. Some persons who wanted to bring a bad name to his administration were indulging in such acts. Many were not happy that things had started to look up after he came to power. Blaming the ``lunatic fringe'' in the society for the attacks, he said that not everyone was rational. There are ``madcaps and misguided elements'' in our society who wanted to sow the seeds of hatred. The Hubli and Wadi incidents were the symptoms. More than the damage to the church at Hubli, what was of concern was the damage to the hearts and psyche of the people, he said.

The Chief Minister said that police had been alerted throughout the State and instructed to keep a vigil over temples, churches and mosques. The Home Minister, Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge, had visited Hubli to study the situation.

The Archbishop said that they did not want to blame anyone for the attacks on churches. That was the responsibility of the Government.

(Meanwhile, the Home Minister, Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge, told presspersons in Hubli on Sunday that a CoD probe had been ordered into the blasts. Mr. Kharge flew to Hubli to inspect the site of blast at St. John's Lutheran Church. Mr. Kharge also addressed a meeting where he reassured the Christians that the Government would take steps to provide them adequate security).

Later speaking to presspersons, the Chief Minister declined to blame anyone for the incident. He had been asked whether he suspected the ISI of Pakistan or any fundamentalist organisation within the country. The investigations going on into the incidents would establish the guilt of those involved. Nor did he see the need for a judicial inquiry or for convening an inter- faith dialogue on the issue.

Earlier Mr.Krishna had a talk with the Archbishop, the parish priest of the basilica, Rev. P. Balaiah, Mr. J. Alexander, MLA from Bharatinagar and former Chief Secretary, Mr. F.T.R. Colaso, former Director-General of Police, Mr. D. J. Balraj, former Development Commissioner, and others representing organisations of Christians.In a memorandum to the Chief Minister, the Global Council of Indian Christians demanded an interim report from the Government on the blasts at the Wadi church last month. The churches should be rebuilt at Government expense. Mr. Sajan K. George, National Convener of the Council, blamed the ``sectarian ideology'' for the attacks on Christians, Muslims and dalits.

The Archbishop said that the incidents had created fear among the Christians and made them doubt the safety of their other religious places. He also did not see the need for a dialogue with Hindu religious leaders.

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