Children persecuted in Karnataka

Lent is a time when Christians contemplate on the ‘Passion of the Christ’ and in Karnataka, Christians are at the receiving end of persecution this Lenten season.

Since the beginning of April, many children from Christian-run shelters for poor returning home after exams have been stopped by Bajrang Dal activists and harassed. These included children from Ebenezer Mercy Hall, a charitable home run by a Pentecostal Christian group, the Ashraya home run by a Catholic leader, and the Stella Maris Orphanage run by Apostolic Carmel nuns.

It’s only after I read the news that thirty-seven groups belonging to all faiths have publicly condemned Bajrang Dal attacks on Christian-run homes for poor children in Karnataka, that I realised how ineffective the media is when it comes to covering news. The news-log has been overshadowed by Cricket, Anna Hazare, the Japan Earthquake, and new scams, so one got to read about this protest on a news website.

These fanatics, in the name of ‘protecting Hinduism’ have now begun to “train their guns” on students, especially those from these poor homes, alleging proselytization. It has been observed that since 2008 when the BJP started ruling the southern state, lunatic fringe groups affiliated to the Sangh Parivar have become bolder. There have been at least 24 attacks on Christians and their institutions. When Christians  protested the attacks, the police harassed the victims instead, and did nothing to safeguard them, say members from the community.

Dalit leader Krishnananda D said Christians have donated their houses to establish schools but now the fundamentalists are stopping them from even imparting knowledge. There are more than 80,000 students studying in Christian schools in Mangalore. If every student was made a ‘Christian’ by now India would have become a nation full of Christians.

“We may be Muslims or Christians but before that we are Indians,” said Muslim leader Ali Hasan, addressing nearly 4,000 people assembled on April 11 in front of the local district commissioner’s office in Mangalore..

“The children were shocked and depressed when the fundamentalists threatened and questioned them. They even threatened the children with murder and removal of their kidneys”, said Sister Premalatha, one of the caretakers of Stella Maris Orphanage.

“Whatever the provocation, we will not stop working for the poor children,” said Sister Agatha Mary, Superior General of the Apostolic Carmel Congregation.

Mariamma Thomas, a Christian social activist, alleged that the police as well as child-welfare committees have joined hands with the fundamentalists in attacking children’s homes.

Asha Nayak, president of South Kanara District Child Welfare Committee said: ‘We inspect the records, registers, official permissions and files of the poor children homes as to protect them and their rights. That is our official duty.

The Stella Maris orphanage has been functioning for the past 60 years, and on demand by the child welfare committee, the nun in charge produced relevant legal documents in this regard to prove that the orphanage was registered and the children were not illegally confined.

Asha Nayak and assistant commissioner Prabhulinga Kavalikatte visited the orphanage to verify the documents. After a thorough discussion, they concluded that all the documents were in place and decided to send the children back to the orphanage.