NEW DELHI (UCAN/Matters India): Delhi chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, promised to probe the demolition of the Syro-Malabar Little Flower Church in Lado Sarai, in the national capital, and try to restore it on July 16.
Kejriwal told media that he was informed that the action was ordered by the DDA, which comes under the federal government, but he assured he would provide all help and support.
Following the destruction othe church on July 12 [Sunday Examiner, July 18], Archbishop Kuriakose Bharanikulangara of Faridabad said, “We have appealed to Indian premier, [Narendra] Modi, to look at the matter and do the needful as it is a very serious matter of concern and if not taken seriously it may give a wrong message.”
The church was demolished by authorities following orders from the Delhi Development Authority [DDA], which claimed it was on unauthorised land.
“Our papers on church land are complete and there was no such issue in the past. The incident has extremely saddened our people, who are in a state of shock,” Archbishop Bharanikulangara said, pointing out that the land was bought in 2006 and the Little Flower Church had been holding services there for the last 12 years.
However, on July 9 a notice was put on the church’s boundary wall saying it was on illegal land. Then, on July 12, the DDA came with police officers and machinery and demolished the building.
The archbishop said it was very disheartening especially as church officials were not given a chance to explain their position.
The demolition was condemned by Church and political leaders across India.
‘Our papers on church land are complete and there was no such issue in the past. The incident has extremely saddened our people, who are in a state of shock’
Archbishop Kuriakose Bharanikulangara
Archbishop Joseph Kalathiparambil of Verapoly said it “cast a shadow on the secular nature of the country. For several years, some 1,500 faithful from around 450 families used to rely on the church for prayers.”
Metropolitan Kuraikose Theophilose of the Jacobite Church, based in the state of Kerala, said that such acts were an infringement on the rights conferred on citizens and religions by the constitution.
“We urge the Delhi government to make alternative arrangements for the people who lost the church to pray,” the metropolitan added.
Archbishop John Moolachira of Guwahati, president of the North East India Regional Bishops’ Council, said it was “shocking and sad news.”
The opposition Congress party in the state of Goa, which has a large Christian population, accused Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party [AAP] of standing by while the demolition took place.
A Congress spokesperson told India’s independent news agency IANS that the AAP had “an anti-minority agenda.”
The issue has heightened political sensitivities in Goa, which is readying for legislative elections early next year. Both the Congress and the AAP are hoping to win the Goa’s sizeable Christian vote.
Pinarayi Vijayan, chief minister of Kerala state, described the incident as “shocking.” Kerala is home to just over a fifth of India’s Christians, according to 2011 census data.
