5 months ago
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A delegation of Christian organisations met the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah successful Belagavi connected Tuesday, seeking extortion for a Catholic radical that is gathering a religion successful Ramapur adjacent Gajendragad successful Gadag district.
Bishop Derek Fernandes, who led the delegation, complained that members of right-wing groups were interfering with the operation of a priest’s residence and a religion astatine Holy Family School.
School—established 11 years agone nether the Belgaum Diocese Board of Education and supported by the Bethany Sisters—recently celebrated its archetypal SSLC batch. While the Diocese manages the main school, the kindergarten conception is operated by the Bethany Sisters.
The leaders said that the Diocese planned to service the spiritual needs of the Catholic assemblage comprising priests, teachers, and students associated with the school, and planned the operation of a priest’s residence (presbytery) and a tiny church. A non-agricultural residential crippled nether the jurisdiction of Ramapur Gram Panchayat was obtained done owed process. The panchayat passed a solution connected March 10, 2025, granting support for some structures, with ceremonial support issued connected July 24. Construction began connected October 30, and archetypal instauration enactment was completed.
The project, however, came to an abrupt halt erstwhile immoderate radical claiming to beryllium Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) members, submitted a petition to the Panchayat demanding withdrawal of the permissions. The radical alleged that Christian conversion activities were being conducted. The Bishop has categorically rejected specified allegations arsenic baseless and defamatory.
Despite the Diocese having complied with each ineligible requirements for non-agricultural conversion and construction, Bishop Fernandes noted that officials including the BEO and PDO intervened pursuing the objections, issuing directions to stall the construction. He expressed interest that the Diocese had been “targeted unlawfully,” and that repeated appeals astatine the section level had failed to output relief.
The CM assured them of due action. Home Minister G. Parameshwara spoke to the Superintendent of Police, Gadag, and directed him to supply capable extortion to the group. Law Minister and Gadag successful complaint Minister H.K. Patil said helium would personally guarantee that they faced nary problems from miscreants.
MLC Ivan Dsouza, assemblage leaders Rev Fr Pramod Kumar and Louis Rodrigues were present.
