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Bangalore, Dec 1, 2011: The Karnataka State Cabinet on Thursday December 1 took a major decision of withdrawing cases filed against 338 innocent Christian youth in 2008. It took more than 3 years and concerted efforts by the Church heirarchy comprising all bishops, community organisations, notably IFKCA, The CSF, etc. and prominent Christians like Justice Michael Saldanha, Kumar Swamy, Pericho Prabhu and others. Though the state government had taken a decision long ago to withdraw the cases and had assured various delegations about its intent to do so, it was waiting for the cabinet approval for formally withdrawing the cases. The withdrawal of these cases has come as a big relief to all those youth against whom the cases were pending as it was a big burden that affected their studies, their everyday life and career prospects. 
 
The Law Minister of the State S Suresh Kumar in a press conference confirmed the decision taken by the cabinet in this direction and said the government took the decision as a result of the concerted efforts IFKCA chairman and its members who worked studiously and painstakingly to enable the cabinet to take the decision so soon. The long awaited cabinet decision to withdraw the cases of 338 innocent Christian youth against whom cases were filed as a consequence of the retaliatory action following the attack on places of worship, is a big respite to the affected youth who now feel they are free from a big load they carried these three years.
 
The Cabinet decision is also a big relief for all those leaders who worked zealously in the past three years to get them released. Their untiring efforts have proved fruitful though it has taken 3 years for the government to arrive at the decision as it had to follow certain procedures to do so. Archbishop Bernard Moras and Karnataka Bishops, besides The CSF general secretary, Joseph Dias, among other NGOs and individuals, had repeatedly petitioned and led delegations to the chief ministers and other cabinet ministers of the state requesting them to withdraw the cases and also to express unhappiness over the delay in taking a decision. The home minister R Ashok had then instructed special officer Kempe Gowda to keep a track of file movement of these cases as per the procedures, from respective local police stations till the office of the home ministry.
 
It may be remembered that following the unfortunate events that followed the church attack in Mangalore and Udupi in 2008, the youth reacted to the attack on the places of worship which was nothing but reactionary, resulting in the clash between them and the police. In these incidents the police had registered cases against many innocent youth who suffered all these three years by attending the court cases and also by running from pillar to post requesting withdrawal of these cases. Most of these youth had to suffer a great deal and over the years lost the zest to fight the cases as most of them had to forego their studies and good career prospects.
 
Eminent community leader and NRI businessman Ronald Colaco and his institution IFKCA was instrumental in playing a pivotal role in coming to the rescue of these youth by providing monetary and psychological help for these youngsters who were arrested after filing cases. Despite positive responses from the erstwhile chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and his cabinet colleagues and also from the present chief minister and home minister, it was an exasperating moment for everyone concerned till the decision came through. The IFKCA delegation included Denis D’Silva, convenor IFKCA, Jossy Lobo, president IFKCA Belehonur Roshan Castelino, president of Sparsha Social Service Centre, Michael Baptist, secretary, IFKCA, Stanly K Bangarpet, Michael Baptist, secretary, IFKCA and others.