Udupi: The general secretary of the State unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Bhanu Prakash, said on Wednesday that the State Government should initiate legal action against individuals and organisations supporting naxalites.

Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, Mr. Prakash said the decision was taken at a meeting of the presidents of the party in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Chikmagalur, Hassan, Shimoga, and Kodagu.

The list of individuals and organisations had been released by the Police Department. Four BJP MLAs — Sunil Kumar, C.T. Ravi, Araga Jnanendra, and D.N. Jeevaraj — were facing threat from naxalites.

Hence, these MLAs had been provided with a police gunman for security, he said. “Some intellectuals are trying to provide an ‘intellectual base’ for naxal activities.

The Government should not hesitate to take action against such individuals or organisations,” Mr. Prakash said.

He said it had been decided at the meeting to urge the Government to keep all the departments concerned ready to deal with damage caused by rain.

Relief should be promptly distributed to the affected farmers. It was also decided that party workers should create awareness about the programmes of the Government among the people, he said.

The president of the State unit of the BJP Mahila Morcha, Bharati Shetty, said that study programmes (Abhyasa Varga) had been held for the mahila morcha units in all the districts.

Mysore, Jun 28: A protest rally against the recent assault on a priest in Kundapur by Bajarang Dal activists was held at Gandhi Square here on Wednesday June 27.

A press release stated that the rally was organised by the president of Ahinda youth wing and Karnataka Christian joint secretary Gracian Rodrigues. More than a thousand people participated in the rally.

More than 22 inter-religious organisations such as Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (DSS), Raita Sangha, Karnataka Forum for Dignity (KFD), Muslim League, Kuruba Sangha, Nayaka Sangha, Pragatipara Okkuta and city unit of Konkani Christian Association joined the rally.

Bishop Thomas A Vazapilly, vicar general Fr Xavier, episcopal vicar for religious in Mysore diocese Fr Desmond Rebello, Capuchin, priests and leaders of various religions participated in the protest, stated the release.

Mumbai, Jun 28: Federation of Maharastra's Canara Catholic Associations has condemned the assault on Fr Sylvester Pereira, head of Carmel Ashram at Katkere near Kundapur in Udupi district.

Christian's contribution to India has been significant with its services in the field of education in the undivided district Dakshina Kannada has been great indeed.  The self-styled leaders who have forgotten of this fact are indulged in assault, Association opined.

“The politicians who are known to protect the criminal assailants deserves to be condemned” Federation convenor, Rons Bantwal, president S Sequeira, George D’Souza, honorary chief secretary Austin D’Souza, advisor Harry, said in the press release.

Moreover, Federation has urged the police to arrest all those self-styled leaders who are involved in the assault with the sole objective of cheap publicity.

Those leaders who allege conversion should gather the information on true information and details of who are really involved in conversion activities. If Christians were truly engaged in conversion why the Christian population has not increased, even after 60 years of the independence in India? they questioned.  Let the so-called leaders who are involved in assault realize this in toto and let the officers prove it.  Let the self-styled leaders give up their tendencies to take law into their hands.  This would lead all the people in the society to live in peace.

Mangalore, Jun 27: Muslim Parishat has condemned the assault on Fr Sylvester D’Souza, by Bajrang Dal activists at Kundapur on Monday June 25.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday June 27 Parishat president Hameed Kandak said that Bajarang Dal activists are behaving like goons in the coastal area.  Owing to the menace of Bajrang Dal activists, the state government has become inactive in the state, he accused.

The attacks on minoritiy communities have increased in the past 3 years. Moreover, the chief minister, home minister and district-in-charge ministers are slow to react and instead opt to watch the developments in this regard. This calls for the resignation of state coalition government, he added.

Udupi: The Government has sanctioned a Kendriya Vidyalaya for Udupi district, which will be opened shortly near here, stated a press release issued by K. Raghupati Bhat, MLA, on Wednesday. The Central Committee will visit Udupi, inspect the land near Shivaram Karanth Kalagram in Alevoor village for the Kendriya Vidyalaya.

Udupi: Seventy watercolour paintings depicting the life and message of the legendary heroes Koti and Chennayya that education was the only way for the welfare of mankind would be exhibited in schools, colleges and “garodis” (prayer halls of the Billava community) shortly, the producer and visualiser of these paintings, Suryodaya, told presspersons here on Wednesday.

Dubai, June 27: The Byndoor Catholic Association -U.A.E  today in an emergency meeting headed by the President - Robert Gras  Secretary -Dinesh Gras, Treasurer -Mr. Ivan Dias and Other committee members has strongly condemned the assault on Fr. Sylvester at Koteshwar-Kundapur on Monday 25th June.

This kind of incidence  is shameful & rare for the peace loving society of this area Kundapur region.

Local authorities are been requested to  initiate legal proceedings against the culprits involved , brought them to book , and make sure that stringent action is taken against them so that the secular fabric will not be spoiled.

This may not occur again. An immediate meetings of all the peace loving religious heads of all the communities , local leaders & administration shall be conviened to induce religious tollerance and to maintain peace and religious harmony in this area.

-Dinesh Grass, Secretary, BCA, UAE

Bangalore, Jun 27: Karnataka Catholic Bishop's Conference (KCBC) has condemned the assault on Carmelite priest Fr Sylvester Pereira and others at Koteshwar near Kundapur in Udupi district on Monday June 25.

In a press note issued by the Conference Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore has said the attack is an attempt to provoke Christians who are a minority community and to disturb peace and harmony in the area.

The Karnataka Bishop's Conference has appealed to the chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, deputy chief minister B S Yadiyurappa, leader of the opposition and home minister to take immediate action against the accused.

As reported in these columns earlier on Monday Fr Sylvester Pereira and his companions had gone to a Hospital at Kundapur for treatment.  Fr Sylvester was taken unawares when the youth attacked him with foul language and beat him in the hospital premises.
 
The press release stated that owing to the above incident the Christians in the state along with Karnataka Bishop's Conference feel insecure and disturbed.”In today's society it is impossible to dwell in peace with such unruly youth. The attack carried out without any reason proves beyond doubt that there is no proper security for Christians in this land," press note stated.

The Conference has asked the state police department and the government to take stern action against culprits immediately.

Manipal: In a major step towards expanding linkages with Australian universities, Manipal University signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, here on June 24 and 25.

A press release issued by the Manipal University here stated that Pro-Chancellor of Manipal University H.S. Ballal and Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of New South Wales Jennie Lang signed the MoU, which facilitates exchange of students of graduate and postgraduate courses in Life Sciences and Engineering programmes.

The MoU supports collaborative research programmes and allows faculty exchanges between the universities. UNSW is one of the leading teaching and research universities in Australia.UNSW is home to a number of internationally recognised research developments in the fields of quantum computing, photovoltaics, HIV/AIDS research, interactive cinema, and polymer chemistry.

The MoU with UNSW is expected to provide better chances for Manipal University undergraduates and postgraduates to study abroad, facilitate staff exchange for advanced training and to undertake cutting edge research.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Ballal reiterated Manipal University’s commitment to be on the frontiers of cutting edge education and research and that the MoU with UNSW was one of the milestones.