Dr H T Sangliana, former top cop of Karnataka and ex-MP, and now the newly appointed Vice Chairman of the Minorities Commission, says he always accepted his postings and transfers as part of God’s plan for his life. He urges Christians to be aware of their rights and to be cautious as they obey the Christian mandate to evangelise. A man known for his integrity, Sangliana is poised for greater achievements.

The new vice chairman of the Minorities Commission, Dr H T Sangliana, is just settling down in his office in Lok Nayak Bhavan. Located on the 5th floor it is yet to acquire all the paraphernalia associated with the august office. As simple and transparent as the person who has acquired a honourable public image in his own right, having given a good account of himself in all his assignments.

All minorities have reasons to hope in this honest civil servant that he will be a defender of their rights and a builder of bridges in our pluralistic society. At a time when communal forces are playing havoc with the social fabric of society and legal and civil rights are trampled upon by fanatical elements with immunity, there is need for boldness in initiating action against the violators of law and Sangliana will fill the Bill, it is felt.

I have no other role model than Jesus Christ' he told Praise the Almighty. A 'born again' Christian, he is aware of the social and other issues facing the country and comes to the job with a wealth of experience in handling law and order problems. He answered a number of questions put to him during an interview at his office on December 16.

He commends the Right to Information Act for functioning as an instrument for introducing greater transparency and accountability in the functioning of the government and for providing the common man a tool for bringing up their grievances to public view. Churches could also make appeal under the Act whenever legal and civil rights come under attack.

National Interest:

The former member of Parliament, does not regret his expulsion from the BJP or even losing his Parliamentary membership. He voted in favour of the civil nuclear deal with the United States, quite convinced that it was in the national interest. The party interests, he believes, should be subordinated to the national interest.

The new vice chairman of the Minorities Commission was answering some questions in his office at Lok Nayak Bhavan on December 16.

The country is facing power shortage. It is well known that the BJP-ruled Karnataka also faced such a shortage. The treaty with the US would facilitate greater availability of power in the future .To oppose this arrangement in the context would amount to double speak.

Freedom of religion:

He agrees with the questioner that the Freedom of Religion Bills in various states are being used by vested interests to lodge false cases and harass innocent Christian pastors and evangelists. In Karnataka, where he had a long tenure as a senior police officer, he had challenged those who complained about forcible conversions to cite at least one instance of false conversion. Nobody came forward to prove a single case.

Once in Udipi, he met the Inspector General of Police and found there were 74 cases pending with the police stations of the area. All were false cases filed under heavy sections of the IPC. Magistrates are usually aware of the nature of these cooked up cases and so don't deny bail to the accused.

Also the intention of harassment is very often evident because the raids are planned one day prior to a holiday so that it is not easy to obtain bail.

While the Christian community is non-violent and believes in turning the other cheek, it is possible that continued harassment by vested interests would only generate a sense of helplessness and drive some to militancy. 'I will not be surprised if militancy arises out of denial of protection against harassment,' he added.

Lodge FIRs:

He wants those who face hostility and attack to lodge complaints with the police on grounds of defamation and criminal trespass, forwarding at the same time lists of damages caused. In the instance of the police refusing to register the cases, the matter must be taken up with the higher authorities.

At the same time, he advises evangelists to be careful not to cause any provocation in communally sensitive areas. “We have a doctrine that requires us to share our faith; others do not have such compulsions,” he avers pointing to the possibility of misunderstanding and suspicion in the minds of the uninitiated.

Self respect:

Regarding the rights of Dalit Christians, he is against their tendency to stand before governments with a begging bowl for concessions. He reminds them that they are as much children of the Most High and must, with self respect, work for their own advancement.

Recognising that large families place limitations on maintaining living standards they should also adopt the small family norm by resorting to the natural way of family planning. Pastors and elders should be willing to counsel them about the two-children norm.

Students hailing from the Scheduled tribe and Scheduled caste communities should be extended the facility of free extra coaching to improve their capacity to compete with other candidates from the privileged classes.

Role of Pastors:

Dr Sangliana feels that pastors could play a greater role in churches even in mundane affairs affecting the congregations. For instance they could display on notice boards employment opportunities that exist and also in helping the youth in finding suitable jobs. Church members, on their part, should help augment resources of the church in an effort to make more funds available for the common good.

When his attention was drawn to alienation of church property by unscrupulous persons, he was not quite sure whether such matters fell within the purview of the commission. But if any such matters were brought before the commission for investigation, necessary action will be taken.

Fear of God:

He recalls that he had always accepted his postings and transfers as part of God's plan for his life and never attempted to deflect from them. Also new places and new people always interested him. His wife is a perfect house keeper relieving him from domestic responsibilities.

A conversation with this man from Aizawl (Mizoram) with a 'common touch' clearly impresses one that his heart in the right place. Far from dwelling on past laurels, his leaning on faith and dependence on God and not on his own merit shines through the talk. One is reminded of what Philips Brook's exhortation: 'Feed on Christ, and then go and live your life, and it is Christ in you that lives your life, that helps the poor, that tells the truth, that fights the battle, and that wins the crown.'

An upright and much decorated police officer, discerning minds have anticipated that he might come to occupy higher posts in the governance of the nation which called for a sense of impartiality, justice and righteousness. The present position gives him the rank of a minister of state. Outlook had, in its first anniversary issue, listed him as among 50 Indians who made a difference..