Bandra residents to protest demolition of cross today

Catholic communities from Bandra will hold a silent march in front of their ward office on Wednesday, to protest against the demolition of a cross at Bandra.

The residents claim the cross at D’monte Road, which the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation demolished last week, was built in 1895.

The Bombay Catholic Sabha, Bombay East India Association, Watchdog Foundation and Save Our Land are among the groups taking part.

Based on a 2011 Supreme Court (SC) order to demolish illegal shrines, the BMC has taken action against 131 of 486 illegal shrines it has identified, officials said. Residents, however, alleged the cross was built on private land, and the Apex Court order pertained only to public land. The BMC has identified 38 illegal shrines in Bandra.

Dolphy D’souza from Save Ourlandsaid “Thebmcissued

a 2010 PIL. This PIL, however, relates only to religious structures on public property. In 2002, BMC had filed an affidavit listing 67 illegal shrines in Bandra, and the Holy Cross at D’monte road was not mentioned. This is nothing but blasphemy.”

In a statement on Tuesday, the BMC said municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta will personally look at the residents’ objections on the action taken against illegal shrines “The BMC has

all the shrines in 2009. A list of illegal shrines was released in 2012. We are taking action as per the Bombay HC’S deadline of demolishing illegal shrines before November 17, 2017.”

BMC also said documents pertaining to all shrines will be available for public scrutiny in all 24 ward offices. Asif Zakaria, local Congress corporator from Bandra said the community is unhappy. “BMC seems to be confused about its opinion which