Monday, September 19 2005 14:13 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Charging that attacks on Christian community was on the rise in Karnataka under Coalition Government Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and former cop H T Sangliana today (Sept 19, 2005) demanded steps to check such incidents and an environment of peace and harmony among all sections of the society.

"This Coalition Government which claims itself as secular is indifferent to the attacks on Christians and is sleeping", he alleged at a press conference here.

Accusing that obstruction of locals for erection of a temporary shelter at a church in Bharati Nagar assembly constituency in the city on August 30 was done at the behest of his party MLA Nirmal Kumar Surana, Sangliana said he would take up the issue at the party level.

He said a new forum, The Opinion Makers for Secular Growth (TOMS Group) has been formed by like minded people to take up issues concerning attack on minorities particularly Christians.

Sangliana said yesterday (Sept 18, 2005) at Kengeri a group of people obstructed prayers being conducted by Christians at a church.

He charged that police have refused to register a complaint on the Lakshmipura church attack coming under Bharati Nagar constituency and added he would soon call on Chief Minister N Dharam Singh to bring these issues to the government attention.

Sangliana, who represent Bangalore North Lok Sabha constituency said, Christians in the state were not propagating conversion, but only following their faith, terming the attacks as 'unfortunate and unwarranted'.