Clarion India
BENGALURU – Members of Hindutva groups have set fire to Christian religious books in Kolar in Karnataka, claiming conversions by the church.
According to NDTV, no arrest has been made in the case. The police said the Christian community was warned against distributing religious booklets.
“We have warned the Christian community to not create any communal disharmony by going door-to-door and preaching. Both parties, the right wing and the Christian community members have settled the matter amicably,” an officer said on condition of anonymity.
The incident took place when representatives of the Christian community were going door-to-door as part of a preaching drive. They were intercepted and questioned by members of the Hindutva groups, who then snatched the booklets and set them on fire.
The Kolar incident is the 38th attack on religious minorities in Karnataka in the last 12 months. There has been a wave of such attacks since the BJP-led state government started considering a bill to ban forcible religious conversions.
“Have you taken into consideration how many Christians have increased since Independence? We are still 2.1 per cent. On the other hand, the number of attacks — it is much more than that. And now that he is bringing the tool, he’s letting lose the tiger and saying that don’t get scared, we will take care of you etc. I don’t think the Chief Minister should play with our sentiments,” said Peter Machado, the Archbishop of Bengaluru on the conversion bill.
