By Isaac Harold Gomes
On a day when Delhi delivered an AAPsolute
mandate for secularism, February 10, 2015; the Archdiocese of Calcutta, along
with West Bengal Minority Development Council, organised a protest at Park
Circus 7-Point Crossing, starting 6 p.m.
“Attacks on churches and other holy places of
minorities are attacks on Indian secularism and the Constitution...Christians
have always worked for India’s development - why are our places of worship and
properties being attacked and destroyed?
"যে কোন ধর্মস্থানের উপর আক্রমণ এবং তার পবিত্র জিনিষ ধ্বংস করা সভ্য সমাজে কোনমতেই মেনে নেওয়া যায় না৷"
Posing these questions, Father Dominic
Gomes, Vicar General of the Archdiocese, picked up his guitar to powerfully
protest through a song - strongly joined in by Charles Sassoon, VP1, Catholic
Association of Bengal (CAB) and others. (See video below)
Believers in religious freedom and concerned
citizens of all faiths joined the large numbers of laity, religious and clergy,
over 2000 strong, at the landmark
roundabout terminating Park Street, to express their concern over the recent anti-Christian
incidents and vandalism at Delhi and elsewhere, and to demand justice. Besides
the leaders of various Catholic action bodies, Bishop Raju of the CNI church
was present, and others like social activist Lovina Khan.
Speakers including Alexander Anthony,
president of CAB, condemned the rash of heinous crimes expressing concern at
the perceived silence of the Prime Minister, even as the incidents grow. They alleged
the threat toward the peaceful Christian community - which has always contributed
significantly to the nation - was being ignored.
Eugene Gonsalves, President All India
Catholic Union (AICU) said that though Christians were about 2.5% of the Indian
population, their share in the service sector was 24%. He remarked that, if all minorities were
united, they would become a combined force of 30% - enough to counter any
anti-minority agendas.
Fr. Dominic read out a copy of the Memorandum to
be submitted to the Governor and sent to the Prime Minister.
Earlier, ArchbishopThomas D'Souza, who was attending the Conference of Catholic Bishops in India (CCBI) Meeting at Bengaluru at the time, issued the following statement, along with the all Bishops of the Bengal Region:
"The Church in Kolkata is deeply anguished by the frequent attacks on our churches in the national capital and other areas of the country. The desecration of our Holy churches is totally unacceptable.
We strongly condemn such deplorable acts and demand exemplary action by the government against the perpetrators of such heinous crimes.
The continued silence of the authorities is deafening and equally deplorable."
Earlier, ArchbishopThomas D'Souza, who was attending the Conference of Catholic Bishops in India (CCBI) Meeting at Bengaluru at the time, issued the following statement, along with the all Bishops of the Bengal Region:
"The Church in Kolkata is deeply anguished by the frequent attacks on our churches in the national capital and other areas of the country. The desecration of our Holy churches is totally unacceptable.
We strongly condemn such deplorable acts and demand exemplary action by the government against the perpetrators of such heinous crimes.
The continued silence of the authorities is deafening and equally deplorable."
Video and Images from the protest venue
Video >
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