Karnataka Church Attacks: Government Gets Clean Chit :
Bangalore: Finally, some good news for the beleaguered BJP government in Karnataka. A commission set up to investigate a series of attacks on churches in 2008 has said neither the government nor the police can be faulted. The report submitted by the one-man commission states: "There is no basis to the apprehension of Christian petitioners that the politicians, BJP, mainstream Sangh Parivar and state government directly or indirectly, are involved in the attacks."
            That leaves Karnataka wondering who  exactly vandalized its churches in  eight different districts. The  report dodges that bullet, stating, "The  attacks are indulged in by  misguided fundamentalist miscreants of  defined or undefined groups or  organisations against Christians and  Christianity who have mistakenly  presumed that they would be protected  by the party in power with their  policies at the relevant time."In September 2008, churches were vandalized in different parts of Karnataka like Mangalore, Udupi, Kolar, Bellary.
BK Somasekhara, a former judge, was assigned to investigate the attacks by the newly-elected BJP government which was confronting its first major crisis.
 Christians  in the state  describe Mr Somasekhara's findings as a please-all  pardon.  "It has  given a clean chit to everybody. As you are aware, our  churches were  attacked, innocent people were attacked," said Father  Jayanathan, Vicar  General, Archdiocese of Bangalore.
The chief minister, BS Yeddyurappa, is currently dealing with multiple allegations of corruption and persistent demands for his resignation by the Opposition. There's also a public and shrill war between the government and the Governor of the state, who has sanctioned the chief minister's prosecution.
So Mr Yeddyurappa is cautious when it comes to discussing today's developments.
"The Home Ministry will examine what the government should do further in this regard. Till then, it's not appropriate to discuss any other point at this stage," he said.
The chief minister, BS Yeddyurappa, is currently dealing with multiple allegations of corruption and persistent demands for his resignation by the Opposition. There's also a public and shrill war between the government and the Governor of the state, who has sanctioned the chief minister's prosecution.
So Mr Yeddyurappa is cautious when it comes to discussing today's developments.
"The Home Ministry will examine what the government should do further in this regard. Till then, it's not appropriate to discuss any other point at this stage," he said.
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