After BMC’s demolition act came as a blow to the christians residing in Mumbai, a group of catholics gathered near Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s office in Bandra on 3rd May, 2017; to protest against the decision of the high court. The mob was led by Fr. Lawrence Frazier, Fr. Donald Rodrigues, Adv. Godfrey Pimenta from Andheri and Adv. Vivian from Kurla. People from all walks of life, despite it being a weekday, attended the meet to express their concern over the rising misdeeds towards the Christian community. Around 10 am, the protest began with a number of people holding banners and placards. The gathering marched silently towards St. Peter’s Church, Bandra.
Adv. Godfrey Pimenta from Watchdog Foundations and Adv. Vivian, president of Bombay Catholic Sabha, spoke about the atrocities faced by the christian community. If sources are to believed, the cross was established around 1895 and was situated in a private property owned by Everton Pereira. And since it was in a private property, the BMC had no right to carry out demolition procedures. The speakers tagged that the current happenings are an insult to the religious sentiments of the community. As told to ‘The Free Press Journal’, Adv. Pimenta quoted, “We have witnessed such incidents in the past. We will take the matter to court and have also demanded the suspension of Sharad Ughade (Assistant Municipal Commissioner of BMC)”.
There have been many such attacks over the christian religious symbols during the last few months. In January, 2017; Mumbai witnessed the first case where, a Holy Cross was found damaged at Carter Road, Bandra. Later, in February, a statue of Mother Mary was vandalised in Kurla; followed by desecration of a Crucifix in Santa Cruz. Moreover, it was reported that another crucifix was destroyed by an unidentified miscreant in Gaothan village, Santa Cruz on the day of the protest. The rising misdeeds towards religious communities are hindering the communal peace prevailing in the city. We hope that people behind such hostile activities are charged immediately.
Anjali Reji
