Sindhia for CBI probe into church blasts

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, JULY 10. The Floor leader of the Janata Dal (United) in the State Assembly and former Home minister, Mr. P.G.R. Sindhia, has demanded a CBI investigation into the bomb attacks on churches in the State.

He told presspersons here today that the attacks on the churches could be investigated in a more professional manner by the CBI than by the State police since the incidents were apparently linked to elements in other parts of the country and abroad. The ramifications of the conspiracy were obviously beyond the scope and imagination of the local police.

Mr. Sindhia said the Chief Minister, Mr. S.M. Krishna, had been trumpeting the so-called excellent performance of his Government. But the State police were yet to make a breakthrough in even a single case of attacks against churches. The Chief Minister should remember that the maintenance of law and order was a State subject and he could not wash his hands off by blaming the Union Government for the lapses.

The Opposition leader said the performance of the State police had dipped in recent months, more so, after the panchayat elections. All ranks of the police were apparently perturbed by the transfers and postings in the department and a large number of them were away from their place of duty owing to the "sword of Damocles hanging over their head".

In the midst of all this, the Chief Minister and the Home Minister, Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge, were seeking to gain political advantage by stating that some elements were attempting to destabilise the Congress(I) Government in the State. "If the Chief Minister is aware of the elements concerned then he should bring them to book and ensure that action is taken as per law."

Mr. Sindhia said apart from the churches and the missionaries, a large number of schools run by Christians were in a state of confusion following the bomb blasts. On the day when the Chief Minister assured the Christians that the Government would extend adequate protection to their places of worship, a bomb blast occurred at a church in Bangalore.

He also hit out against the President of the BJP State unit, Mr. B.S. Yediyurappa, and the Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Mr. Ananth Kumar, for their statement that the Pakistan's ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) agents were involved in the attacks against the churches. "The BJP leaders appear to have taken the matter lightly. They should ensure that the Union Government takes the matter seriously and prevents the recurrence of such attacks."

He said senior leaders of the State JD(U) would call on the Archbishop of Bangalore, Dr. Ignatius Pinto, and other Christian leaders on Tuesday and express their sympathies and co-operation. The JD(U) organisational meeting to be held on July 15 and 16 in the presence of the national President and Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr. Sharad Yadav, would also discuss the attacks against the churches and urge the Union Government to take serious note of the matter.

Referring to the functioning of the primary education sector, Mr. Sindhia said it was in a total mess and the good work done by the then Minister of Primary Education, Mr. H.G. Govinde Gowda (during the Janata Dal regime) had been reduced to nought in under eight months by the incumbent minister, Mr. H. Vishwanath. "He is more worried about school timings than the distribution of textbooks and notebooks to the primary school students. Until today books have not been distributed and the teachers are in a quandary. During the Janata Dal Government's period, students were given books by the first week of June. The Chief Minister should intervene in the matter and issue suitable instructions," he said.

The President of the State unit of the JD(U), Mr. C. Byre Gowda, in a statement here today, criticised the poor response of the State machinery to the attacks against the churches and said the poor handling of the incidents could lead to a fear psychosis among Christians.

Even as the Home Minister, Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge, was in the process of ordering an inquiry by the Corps of Detectives, a church in Bangalore was attacked indicating the manner in which the culprits had taken the authorities for granted.

He said extending protection to people of all denominations and faiths was one of the foremost responsibilities of the State Government. The Government should act rather than attempt to gain political advantage over its rivals, he said.

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