Karnataka CM blames Christist groups for violence

Karnataka CM blames Christian groups for violence

PTI | October 13, 2008 | 16:06 IST

With his government facing flak over recent attacks against churches, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Monday blamed certain Christain organisations for flaring up "disharmony and social tension" in the state.

"While Christians and Hindus have co-existed peacefully in the state, there have been unconstitutional and illegal efforts by some Christian organisations such as New Life to forcibly convert or to induce conversion to Christianity," he said, addressing National Integration Council meeting in Delhi.

"Efforts of such organisation include publishing booklets like Satya Darshini in which Hindu gods and goddesses were denigrated. Our Constitution provides for freedom of religion, but does not permit forcible or induced conversion," he said.

He also criticised some Union ministers and alleged political vendetta. "It was very unfortunate that our state was targeted for political vendetta by ministers and officials of the government of India," he said.

Yeddyurappa stressed that there was no need to send Central advisories or rush a team to Karnataka in the aftermath of attacks on minorities.

"There have been serious communal and terrorists activities in other states such as Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Tripura, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh. The Union government was not so active in sending advisory notes, at times touted as notices (under Article 355) to the states," he added.

http://www.rediff.com///news/2008/oct/13ktaka.htm