Zeenews Bureau
Bangalore, Sept 18: In a fresh twist to the ongoing conversion row in Karnataka, the Catholics have now joined hands with the Hindu fundamentalists in holding the New Life Church responsible for triggering communal violence in the state.
Despite unmanageable differences over various issues, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and Mangalore Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D'souza have launched a verbal attack on the evangelical church for disrupting the secular fabric in the state.
The New Life Church, which is a fringe protestant church and a part of several new-age revival groups, has been claiming that they are not involved in forced conversions and denies allegations of land grabbing.
In its defence, the organization has claimed that it works amongst the poor.
The Church has accused the Hindu fundamentalists for deliberately targeting local Catholics over conversion issue.
However, the clarifications tendered by the New Life Church’s head pastor has failed to convince the Hindu groups like the Bajrang Dal and the Sri Rama Sena to stop their agitation against the organization.
The Hindu organizations operating in the state are so peeved with the issue that they are in no mood to provide any concessions what so ever to the Catholics and the fringe Christian groups.
The continued communal violence is surely giving a tough time to the government of Chief Minister Yeddyurappa, who has allowed the police to take stern action against the Hindu groups.
Reacting to the issue, Yeddyurappa said, “I came to know that the New Life Church is converting people. I requested Catholic Bishop to help us but he's helpless like us.”
The communal disturbances in Karnataka started after the New Life Church published a controversial book denying the existence of Hindu Gods and targeting the majority community, which triggered attacks on churches and prayer halls.
Meanwhile, the organization has also come under fire over reports that it is getting foreign funds.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, September 18, 2008, 00:00