B’luru: Archbishop Peter Decries Demolition of Statue; Flays Attacks on Churches

Bengaluru: The Archbishop of Bangalore, Most Rev Peter Machado, has vociferously condemned the recent demolition of the statue of Jesus at Gokunte in Kolar district of Karnataka on February 14 (Monday).

In a strongly worded statement, Dr Peter Machado flayed the continued attacks on the churches across the State with no respect to community feelings. “The systematic and ill-conceived demolition drive is pursued with dogged determination by the government and its machinery. It is sad to note that yet another ruthless demolition of a Christian structure, which included a 20-feet statue of Jesus and 14 Stations of Cross was carried out by the taluka authorities in a Christian village, Gokunte, in Kolar (65 kms from Bangalore), a District of Karnataka touching the border of Andhra.”

The prelate lamented that although the Church had documents of the two acres of the land where these structures were located, the local authorities considered them as not proper or incomplete. The matter is still being heard in the courts. In fact, the trial court had issued a stay order on the demolition, prior to the High Court’s directives. “In spite of the stay order and our best efforts to help the local tehsildar, Ms Shobitha. R, understand the directives of the court, she refused to cooperate and even to share the fresh directives of the court, if any. We were not served with a written notice of the impending action, which she went ahead with determined notion to demolish the structure.”

The tehsildar, armed with 200-strong police force, supervised the demolition till the midnight of 14th February 2022 and pulled down the 20-feet statue to the ground, which has seriously affected not only the sentiments of the Christian community but also the people of other faiths. It was heart breaking to see hundreds of people shedding their tears.

The prelate said, “Even assuming that the structures were not fully authorised, the Government agencies could have had the magnanimity to regularise these structures, which were in place for over 25 years. Isn’t that the reason Karnataka Government recently introduced a bill to protect unauthorised religious structures built on government lands not be demolished in Karnataka? Is this privilege applicable only to certain religious groups and not for minority communities? Are there no other communities of other religions who have illegal structures on public or government properties? Why this discriminatory attitude towards the Christian Community only?”

The Archbishop questioned the wisdom of the authorities, “What was the tearing hurry to initiate this action? Are there the pressures from fundamentalist groups who are bent on the demolition of these Christian structures? Does the government have any control over such fringe elements?”

The place that witnessed the demolition was a peaceful area where even the members of other religious communities were visiting the place to offer prayers and petitions. “We are told that the people who created the problems were outsiders whose main aim was to vitiate the peace atmosphere and harmony in and outside the village.”

“In the last two years, we have seen demolitions occurring at six such places on the hills, and systematic attacks on the Churches across the State. These religious places were patronised and maintained as places of devotion in Bangalore, and its surroundings for decades. In the context of the Anti-Conversion Bill that is being discussed, is it too big an expectation from the Government for any act of benevolence to the Christian Community? he wondered.

The archbishop felt that, “We only fear that many more such harsh, orchestrated and insensitive attacks are sure to happen in the coming days. Notwithstanding these ill-conceived acts, we still hope and pray that the government will protect our places of worship, religious symbols and sacred structures, and that it does not continue to hurt the religious sentiments of Christian minority.”