By Louis Rodrigues –
Kolhapur: Protesting against the attacks on Christian religious places, especially the recent attack on The Holy Cross High School, Kolhapur, in southern Maharashtra, Christians from Kolhapur district on Tuesday staged a silent protest rally in the city.
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In a unique display of solidarity and exhibiting commendable silence and restraint, Christians belonging to different denominations took part in the rally and submitted a memorandum to Collector Avinash Subhedar, raising concern over the rising attacks on the Christian institutions and places of worship.
The rally commenced from the premises of St Xavier’s Church campus at Nagala park area in the city, next to the Holy Cross High School at 10. 30 am and went across the main city roads culminating at the Collector’s office campus. About 3,500 Christians comprising of men, women, children, priests, lay leaders and nuns marched silently displaying placards that condemned the attacks.
It may be recalled that on January 22, about 20 goons allegedly belonging to ‘Yuva Sena’ a youth wing of Shiv Sena had attacked the office of Holy Cross Convent, Kolhapur. The police next day had arrested 14 persons who are in the judicial custody, while another six persons according to police are still at large. The act of vandalism not only attracted ire of Christian’s but also raised question marks about the safety and security of Christians in the region, as in another attack earlier this month, a prayer home was attacked and a Christian pastor and others were brutally assaulted. Advocates Wilson Nathan, Peter Bardeskar, Sanjay D’cruz and Allen Bardeskar are assisting the legal matters pertaining to the attacks.
Through the memorandum submitted, Christians have urged the authorities to immediately arrest those absconding and also initiate stringent action against the culprits and initiate measures to ensure security of the Christian institutions and places of worship. Rev Fr James Thorat, Dr Denis Borges, J B Bardeskar, Deoraj Bardeskar, George Lima, Simon Rodrigues, Manvel Rodrigues, Stephen Fernandes, Rujay Gonsalves, Anthony D’souza among others took special initiatives in organising the rally.