We are very hurt: Karnataka Archbishop tells CM

Zeenews Bureau

Bangalore, Sept 22: Venting his feelings for the first time in public, an angry Archbishop Bernard Moras told the visiting CM Yedyurappa that he was ‘very hurt’. The CM was visiting the Archbishop after meeting with his cabinet colleagues to assess the situation in the state that saw four more churches being gutted in Bangalore town and Kodagu district on Sunday.

"I am telling you publicly, we are very hurt. We cannot express our feelings," Archbishop Bernard Moras told Yeddyurappa while receiving him at the portico of his residence.

"The whole church in Karnataka is deeply hurt," Archbishop Moras said in an emotionally-choked voice.

He asked what the Chief Minister would feel if "the garbhagudi" (sanctum sanctorum of a temple) is destroyed. "It's Jesus for us. It's God for us," he said.

The Chief Minister tried to assuage his feelings and said "we are taking necessary measures".

Earlier in the day, Karnataka CM called a special cabinet meeting after fresh attacks on three churches in Bangalore on Sunday. Earlier, on September 14, suspected activists of Bajrang Dal attacked at least nine churches in the state as a mark of protest against the alleged conversion of Hindus to Christianity.

Prior to the cabinet meeting, Yeddyurappa went to Raj Bhavan and briefed Governor Rameshwar Thakur on the law and order situation and the steps taken by the government to maintain communal harmony and peace.

The incident in Bangalore comes on the heels of a series of attacks against churches in Madhya Pradesh and Orissa. In Rajarajeshwari Nagar of the city, some miscreants pelted stones at a statue in a cave outside the Jesus Church.

Bajrang Dal activist gets bail

Bajrang Dal activist, who was arrested for his alleged involvement in the recent attacks on churches in the state, was granted bail by a local court here today.

The court of Judicial Magistrate K S Vijay granted bail to Mahedra Kumar, Bajrang Dal convenor of Karnataka unit, and ordered him to furnish a bond for Rs 10,000.

The court has, however, directed Kumar to appear before the jurisdictional police station on first and 15th of every month.

Kumar, who was arrested on September 19, was remanded to judicial custody till October one.

Your comment(s) on this article

Just a few Churches attacked and our good Archbishop is hurt. Would he understand how hurt Hindus have been for generations due conversion schemes of the Church? It is best we do not hurt each other. Stop conversions and end the hurt of the Hindus and Christians would have no cause for being hurt by the Hindus. - K.Venugopal - Mumbai
"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." This is what we learn from Christianity and this is what we will follow. If someone has committed a mistake, they should be dealt & executed by law & and not by a side wing of a political party.Just imagine a situation if for everything and anything mobs start acting. Surprised to how many jobless people we have who get involved in such activities,I am sure a number of them have no clue what are they are doing & why. - Ashish - Bangalore
Mr. Zohaib Pakistani, We are Least concerned about CHINA because we know that by 2020-2030 there will be just two economic superpowers "CHINA & INDIA". By then the BUDDHIST Forces in CHINA will prevail and the misunderstanding between CHINA and INDIA will go. THey will live together like BROTHERS "HIND CHINI BHAI BHAI" THe China India International Border will be as porous as USA and CANADA. People will freely visit without VISA. I wish you live a 100 years to see that happen in 2020-2030. PAKISTANI next generation will envy the PROSPEROUS neighbour INDIA and will curse their Living PARENTS, GRAND PARENTS for BAD RELATIONS WITH INDIA> - Altaf - Meerut