NGOs back Catholic center over government land claim

(July28,2009): In southern India’s Karnataka State, voluntary groups have rallied behind a Catholic social-service center, against an attempt by the State’s pro-Hindu government to take back most of Sumanahalli center's land. "Sumanahalli" meaning “a village of people of good will”, covers about 63 acres, on the outskirts of the state capital, Bangalore. The Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, has refused to extend the center's lease. It is demanding it to hand back nearly 58 acres, leaving it just five.
Claretian Father George Kannanthanam, director of the complex, told UCA News on July 27 that the government move would force out around 700 people affected by leprosy, HIV/AIDS and other disabilities. The priest said his center has raised about 160 million rupees (US$1.39 million) over the years and has constructed many buildings with government permission.
The Bangalore archdiocese established Sumanahalli in 1977 at the request of the then-chief minister of Karnataka, Shri Devaraj Urs of the Congress party, to help combat an increase in leprosy cases. The lease the government gave expired in 2001. Although the lease period has ended, they could have been more considerate toward the cause," Fr. Kanan-thanam commented. The current BJP government came to power in May 2008.
Suresh Kumar, president of the leprosy patients association, told UCA News July 27 that his group also plans to press the government. "We cannot afford to lose Sumanahalli, the only organization that has supported us," he stated.