By IANS
Bangalore: With attacks on Christian churches continuing in Karnataka, Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa Sunday asserted that those breeding intolerance in society will be dealt with mercilessly.
“Our government is committed to protect the socio-religious uniqueness of Karnataka. All measures will be taken to curb the anti-people forces which are trying to disrupt social harmony and peace,” he said in a signed public appeal issued late Sunday evening.
“Those trying to drive a wedge between the communities and breed intolerance will be dealt with mercilessly,” he said as the attacks, which began last Sunday in coastal Karnataka, spread to the state capital Saturday night.
A church and a religious symbol were damaged at two places in Bangalore, one church on the city’s outskirts and another in Kodagu district were stoned in fresh incidents Saturday night and Sunday morning.
Yeddyurappa, whose administration has been warned by the central government twice in two days last week over the attacks, said: “Due to provocation from certain vested interests, intolerance and violent attitude is surfacing.
“Any attempt to politicize the issue should be discouraged, and those who are trying to fish in troubled waters should be taught a lesson,” said the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief minister of Karnataka, who has accused the Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular of such attempts.