The Bombay Catholic Sabha, a non-political organisation registered as a public trust, has called Mumbaikars to gather at Azad Maidan on Monday at 3 pm. There is set to be a peaceful protest against the repeated attempts of church vandalism and desecration of religious places in Delhi.
Dolphy D'Souza, spokesperson, Save Our Land and former president, Bombay Catholic Sabha, said that it is a call to all communities to close the ranks and prevent something like this happening in the city of Mumbai and the state of Maharashtra.
D'Souza said that whether it is in the form of 'Love Jihad' or 'Ghar Wapasi', the 'divisive approach' of Sangh Parivar's fringe elements pains the community. He added: "Ever since the new dispensation has taken charge at the Centre, attacks on minorities have increased in all forms of harassment and intimidation by fringe elements of the Sangh Parivar."
Since the season of Advent last year, there have been 5 attacks on churches in various parts of the city. "Over the last two months there have been systematic attacks on churches where our sacred objects have been desecrated. No culprit has been identified. It is a methodology to provoke disruption and even in the mass protest held at Delhi, the peaceful protestors were assaulted. Why is the PM silent on this?" asked D'souza, who has urged various religious communities and citizens to gather and protest at the maidan.
He added that the protest will have speeches by community members and the idea is to have a peaceful solidarity protest so that attacks like these don't happen again.
