ASIA NEWS REPORT
by Nirmala Carvalho
The official is helped by Hindu nationalists. He said the action was necessary because the structure impeded the proper flow of traffic. Local pastor calls on Labour minister to remove him. Local Christians say the action was deliberate and mischievous, designed to stir communal tensions. In Tamil Nadu, a judge rules that home prayers do not need any permit.
Mumbai (AsiaNews) - Hindu nationalists in Karnataka continue to mistreat Christians, violate the privacy of their homes and disrupt their prayers services with the complicity of local officials, this according to Sajan George, president of Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC).
On 8 October, Ramesh Pattedar, the chief municipal officer in the city of Wady, Gulbarga District, had the wall of a church compound torn down without prior notice or municipal order. He took the action in the late evening with men possibly from local nationalist groups.
The next day, Rev Devkumar Anand wrote a letter to Union Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge. In it, he explained the incident, calling for the official to be removed from his post.
Last Friday, the Christian community staged a protest. In a confrontation with the official, protesters accused him of acting deliberately and mischievously to disturb communal harmony.
In his defence, Pattedar said the wall was located at the intersection of five roads and that it had to go.
For Sajan George, "the rising tide of religious intolerance by administrative officials and police" is "truly worrisome," especially "in Karnataka, where anti-Christian incidents are increasing at a fast pace."
By contrast, a recent decision by the Madras High Court in Tamil Nadu is raising hopes. On 26 September, the court ruled that home-based prayers (which are typical of Pentecostal Churches) do not require permits.
According to Judge S. Manikumar, people, whatever their religion, be they Hindu, Christians or Muslims, cannot be prevented from meeting in any place of worship, and that they do not need any permit from any authority.
SHARED FROM ASIA NEWS
by Nirmala Carvalho
The official is helped by Hindu nationalists. He said the action was necessary because the structure impeded the proper flow of traffic. Local pastor calls on Labour minister to remove him. Local Christians say the action was deliberate and mischievous, designed to stir communal tensions. In Tamil Nadu, a judge rules that home prayers do not need any permit.
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Mumbai (AsiaNews) - Hindu nationalists in Karnataka continue to mistreat Christians, violate the privacy of their homes and disrupt their prayers services with the complicity of local officials, this according to Sajan George, president of Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC).
On 8 October, Ramesh Pattedar, the chief municipal officer in the city of Wady, Gulbarga District, had the wall of a church compound torn down without prior notice or municipal order. He took the action in the late evening with men possibly from local nationalist groups.
The next day, Rev Devkumar Anand wrote a letter to Union Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge. In it, he explained the incident, calling for the official to be removed from his post.
Last Friday, the Christian community staged a protest. In a confrontation with the official, protesters accused him of acting deliberately and mischievously to disturb communal harmony.
In his defence, Pattedar said the wall was located at the intersection of five roads and that it had to go.
For Sajan George, "the rising tide of religious intolerance by administrative officials and police" is "truly worrisome," especially "in Karnataka, where anti-Christian incidents are increasing at a fast pace."
By contrast, a recent decision by the Madras High Court in Tamil Nadu is raising hopes. On 26 September, the court ruled that home-based prayers (which are typical of Pentecostal Churches) do not require permits.
According to Judge S. Manikumar, people, whatever their religion, be they Hindu, Christians or Muslims, cannot be prevented from meeting in any place of worship, and that they do not need any permit from any authority.
SHARED FROM ASIA NEWS
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