State cabinet approves withdrawal of cases against Christian youth

State cabinet approves withdrawal of cases against Christian youth

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore/Bangalore Dec 2, 2011 : The Karnataka State Cabinet decided to withdraw all cases filed against 338 during the church attacks of 2008 on Dec 1 Thursday.

It took organizations such as the International Federation of Karnataka Christian Association (IFKCA), the lay people, and the clergy around 3 years to convince the government to withdraw the cases filed against Christian youth following the church attacks of 2008. Although the state government had assured the Christian community of its willingness to withdraw these cases long time, it was waiting for the state cabinet nod to formally do the same.

 

 

The Christian youth are relieved because these cases were having an adverse effect on their daily life, career, and studies. IFKCA Chairman Ronald Colaco, who played a major role in getting these cases withdrawn, is also relieved.

 

 

Addressing a press conference, S. Suresh Kumar, the state law minister, confirmed that the cabinet has formally decided to withdraw cases against Christian youth, adding that the government took this decision simply because of the efforts of the IFKCA.

This decision would have been taken at least a month back, but was delayed because of the Bellary elections, making it mandatory for the state government to avoid taking major decisions as per the code of conduct of the Election Commission. Getting the cabinet nod was not easy because the files related to all these cases, which were in different police stations, had to reach the IGP’s office and then to the ADGP’s office and finally to the DGP’s office. These files then had to be sent to the home secretary and from there to the office of the home minister, who then had to forward it to the law minister to get a legal opinion.

Following IFKCA pressure, R. Ashok, the state home minister, instructed special officer Kempe Gowda to track the movement of files from their respective police stations to the home minister’s office. It was solely due to the efforts of Ronald Colaco that the files reached their final destination without further delay. The quick movement of all these files paved the way for the cabinet to give its final nod to the withdrawal of cases against Christian youth.

Mr. Colaco has thanked D. V. Sadananda Gowda, the chief minister of Karnataka, and his cabinet for keeping their promise.