House panel order on survey of Churches triggers controversy

Goolihatti Shekar himself has chaired the committee meeting in the absence of its Chairperson BJP MLA of Kumta, Dinakar Shetty has ordered to conduct a survey of the churches to the district administration.

House panel order on survey of Churches triggers controversy

Bengaluru: The Legislature Committee on Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare move to conduct a survey of churches in the state to deregularise the unauthorized one has triggered fresh controversy.

Bengaluru Bishop Peter Machado and Congress leaders from minorities communities have opposed the move of the Legislature panel to conduct a survey based on the allegation of BJP MLA of Hosadurga, Goolihatti Shekar, regarding forcible conversion in churches.

In the recent concluded Legislative session, Mr.Goolihatti Shekar draw the attention of the House that, his mother was the victim of forcible conversion to Christianity.

Interestingly, Mr. Goolihatti Shekar himself has chaired the committee meeting in the absence of its Chairperson BJP MLA of Kumta, Dinakar Shetty has ordered to conduct a survey of the churches to the district administration.

Mr. Shekar has said that forcible conversion in some parts of Karnataka is rampant. Innocent and economically backward classes’ people have victims of forcible conversion in the state. The Survey aims to check the forcible conversion in the state. The survey will be conducted in his home district Chitradurga, where few Churches have been conducting conversions.

In the meeting, representatives of the backward classes and minorities affairs, home, revenue and law departments had given details that there are 1,790 churches in the state.

The Committee has directed the deputy commissioners and district authorities to find out how many Churches have been illegally established. Home department officials have stated that there are 36 cases of forced conversion have been reported across the state.

Without taking any necessary permission, residences have been converting into Churches and Bible societies. Authorities have been asked to find out how many unauthorized churches were established in the recent past. Many Bible societies have not been registered in the recent past, Mr. Shekar said.

Committee has adjourned the next meeting to October 27. Once the survey report is finalized, the same will be placed before the House panel, then tabled in the House in the next session.

During Session, Mr. Goolihatti Shekar mentioned that forced conversion has been rampant in the state, his mother had embraced Christianity.

Meanwhile, Archdiocese opposes the move of conducting a survey of the Churches. Rev Peter Machado, Archbishop of Bangalore, said that the exercise of conducting the survey is uncalled.