By Philip Mathew
BANGALORE: Christians in Karnataka are disappointed over the extension given to a commission enquiring into the attacks on Christians in the southern Indian state.
“The government does not seem to be serious about the early release of the commission report,” said Jesuit Father M. K. George, director of Indian Social Institute in Bangalore, the state capital.
The pro-Hindu Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP, Indian people’s party) extended the term of the B K Somasekhara Commission by two months till Dec. 31. Its term originally expired on Oct. 31.
“The commission is likely to submit its final report by mid-January 2011,” N Vidyashankar, secretary of the commission told ucanews.com.
Father George branded the move “delaying tactics” by the state government.
“The government is lacking the political will to act,” said the priest.
Reverand Manohar Chandra Prasad criticized the government for “soft pedaling” the issue of 2008 anti-Christian violence in the state.
He said the extension reflects the state government’s “step-motherly” attitude toward Christians.
The state witnessed at least 24 attacks on Church institutions and Christians in 2008.
Vidyashankar, however, said the arguments going on in the courts are expected to be over soon and the commission, which has finished most of its work, will start preparing the final report after that.
He said the commission so far has received 1,019 affidavits from Christians and Hindu organizations, police and revenue officials.
It has also collected 2,204 exhibits and 30 materials relating to the cases spread across the state and conducted 25 spot inspections of the places of attacks on churches.
The commission had in early February submitted an interim report to the state government, seeking ban on anti-religious communal organizations.
The commission was constituted on Sep. 19, 2009 for a period of three months. Its term has been extended for nine times so far. UCAN