News & Pics from Jessie Rodrigues
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)
Bangalore, Oct 17: A press conference was convened by the archbishop of Bangalore Bernard Moras on Thursday October 16 at 3 pm, to debunk and disaprove the ‘short circuit’ theory about the fire that broke out at St Antony’s Church, Yedavanahalli, which is surrounded by people of all faiths. There have been no incidents of communal conflicts at all here in the past. The vicinity has always enjoyed peace and harmony.
Fr Adolf Washington welcomed the press, saying that the conference had to be called with an unhappy note, as attacks on churches continue to occur.
Archbishop Bernard Moras in his address, said, “It is really painful that I have to call for another press conference to speak once again about the continuing attacks against the Christian Community, in the wake of the recent vandalism at St Antony’s church in Yedavanahalli in the wee hours of the morning on Monday Oct 13, 2008. Chief minister Yeddyurappa and the police version that it was an incident of ‘short circuit,’ is even more disturbing, as the incident is sought to be interpreted as an ‘accident’. It is very disconcerting, that the chief minister, even before conducting any investigation, made statements saying that it was an accident caused by a ‘short circuit’. Police officials too have down-played the incident, by mis-informing the media that this is an accident caused by ‘short circuit’. All this clearly speaks of a conspiracy cleverly planned and executed. From whom do the police receive directions to concoct theories even before any investigations are conducted? Even in the previous attacks, the home minister Acharya had given lame excuses, he noted. The archbishop also stressed, that these attacks are being master-minded and executed with the intention of creating communal disharmony and unrest.
The archbishop had sent two separate teams to the church to assess the situation at different points of time, on the morning of the 13th October and both the teams have submitted enough evidence to say that it was an act of deliberate vandalism with many supporting points. The Electrical Inspectorate team that visited the church had turned on the power supply and found all the fans, lights and plug points working. What more evidence do we need, to prove that it was not short circuit? he questioned.
In order to be doubly sure, two independent investigations were conducted, one by a consultant and another, by a government-licensed engineer. Both investigations completely ruled out ‘short circuit’ as the cause of fire. The archbishop further stated, that he sees a definite ploy by some self-centred people to demonize the Christian Community and create a polarization with our well-meaning Hindu majority of brothers and sisters, by riding the ‘forcible conversions’ bogey over and over again. There are visible signs, that the government is now becoming increasingly pre-occupied in talking about forcible conversions and considering the introduction of an anti-conversion law, instead of engaging in containing and curbing violence against the Christian community and arresting the culprits, who have been indulging in violence. The photographs of the damages inflicted on the church with all religious articles, were shown to the press with power point presentation. When the media asked the archbishop about the CM, he said, that CM had promised to treat everyone equally and that the minorities will be taken care of, but he has failed in his promise. The archbishop concluded, ‘short-circuit' is a long-circuit, a plan which the people have undertaken under the guise of conversion’
PRO Fr Adolf, chancellor Fr Michael, financial administrator Fr Francis, secretary Fr Louis and parish priest of St Antony’s church Fr Santosh Almeida were a part of the press conference. A number of media people participated in the press conference. Fr Michael proposed vote of thanks.