Bengaluru: A planned silent rally on November 19 (Friday) to protest against the proposed anti-conversion bill in Karnataka state has been postponed to a later date.
Therefore, Friday’s scheduled silent protest march at 3:00 pm at St. Joseph’s Indian High School Grounds, Vittal Mallya road, Bangalore stands cancelled.
The organisers, All Karnataka United Christian Forum for Human Rights, felt that the ongoing inclement weather in the state would make it difficult for people to assemble and conduct their proceedings.
Bangalore Archbishop and President of (AKUCFHR), Dr. Peter Machado said, “Besides the rainy weather, the non-receipt of written permission by government authorities for conducting the rally as also the assembly of participants has forced the organisers to defer the programme to a future date.”
“Other reasons alluded by the government are the Covid-19 norms being in place and the code of conduct for the forthcoming MLC elections in the state,” the Archbishop rued.
Therefore, after consulting with AKUCFHR leaders, organisers decided to postpone the rally and the assembly of people to a later date.
Meanwhile, as scheduled, the leaders of the community will meet at St. Joseph’s Indian High School auditorium with press coverage and submit a memorandum of understanding to the authorities concerned.
“All the same, we wish to hold a Prayer Service on Friday with Bishops, Pastors, Fathers, Sisters and Lay Leaders at the above venue to pray that God may change the mind of those in power in Karnataka not to introduce the draconian anti-conversion bill in the Assembly that may do much harm to the Christians. I invite as many as possible to come,” the prelate said.
After the prayer service a few selected leaders will go to the District office to hand over the Memorandum indicating their plea to the Government
The authorities have denied permissions in other districts of the state too for holding rallies or assemblies in different places.
The members of All Karnataka United Christian Forum for Human Rights comprises Assemblies of God, Baptist Church, Believers Eastern Church, Roman Catholic Church, Church of South India, FCCO, Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Lutheran Church, Malankara Orthodox Church Marthoma Syrian Church, Methodist Church and Seventh Day Adventists.