Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe
Media Release
Mangaluru, Aug 9: A peaceful protest was held at Bejai Circle – George Fernandes Road Junction, on the outskirts of the Bejai Church premises under the leadership of the Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh Bejai unit and the parishioners of St Francis Xavier Church Bejai on Saturday August 9. The protest was organized to condemn and oppose the recent attacks on Christian Catholic priests, nuns, clergy, community leaders, and common Christians across India. Similar protests were also held throughout the Mangaluru and Dakshina Kannada regions.
The parish priest of Bejai church and spiritual director of Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh, Fr J B Saldanha, addressed the gathering and urged society at large to be sympathetic and concerned towards the rights of the Catholic Christian community in the country. He condemned the cowardly group attacks on Christian priests, nuns, and community members in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and other places. He appealed to society, the police department, and the justice system to stand up for the cause of protecting the rights of minorities.
Fr Saldanha emphasized that the Christian community consists of decent and law-abiding citizens who offer services to all communities without discrimination. “For this, we should not be unduly targeted,” he stressed.
Rohan Lawrence Sequeira, president of the Catholic Sabha – Bejai unit, led the protest and described the attacks on Christian priests, nuns, and community members anywhere in India as a direct attack on every member of the community. He urged the protesters and society to prioritize delivering proper justice and punishing the real culprits who have attacked honourable citizens of the Christian community without any wrongdoing. He called for a quick and speedy justice system to bring the culprits to book and punish them at the earliest so that such acts of hooliganism do not recur, ensuring the law of justice is upheld.
The protesters carried hoardings and placards condemning the attacks on Christian minorities and prayed for their safety and protection. The protest concluded with prayers for the betterment of society across India and for the prosperity of the nation. All members of the Catholic Sabha, along with hundreds of Bejai parishioners, participated in the demonstration.