Order provides for the destruction of religious shrines built after 1964. Local Catholic groups already submitted their papers in 2003 proving the dates of construction of the crosses, all previous to 1964. The municipal authorities deny seeing documents.

Mumbai (AsiaNews) - 729 crosses are being destroyed in Bandra, a western suburb of Mumbai, for urban renewal. Local Catholic groups have organized a sit-in protest this morning in front of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the local authority which issued the demolition order. The announcement of the dismantling of religious symbols was delivered through notices on the crosses. At present, the BMC has suspended the demolition order. Subodh Kumar, Municipal Commissioner, said: "No cross will be demolished if the relevant documents prove that these [crosses] are prior to 1964."

The demolition is part of a program to improve facilities and infrastructure, which provides for the elimination of places of worship built after 1964 and considered "illegal" because in the way of road widening, road improvements, or constructed on land destined for public services.

However Kumar’s statement has failed to allay fears. Some older people who attended the sit-in said they were "saddened" by the way in which they received the news, and say that the crosses were placed near their homes in 1948, one even 1912. "Since 2003 we having been presenting documents proving the date of construction of these crosses to the BMC - explain the residents - despite this, the committee has, however, issued the demolition order." The office claims it never received these documents.

Anil Joseph, president of the Bombay Catholic Sabha, explains: "These crosses are part of the history and cultural and religious heritage of Bandra. Previously, they were within the boudaries of Catholic property. When BMC was founded, many areas were reclaimed by the civic body for the construction of roads or other infrastructure, and so the crosses were saved by placing them along the streets". The Jesuit Errol Fernanded SJ, pastor of the church of St. Peter present at the sit-in, said: "We are Christians and honest law-abiding citizens, and therefore we will present the necessary documents again, even if we already did so in 2003. I myself remember delivering documents into the hands of Sudhir Naik relating to two crosses out of my parish. "

Sudhir Naik, deputy municipal commissioner, has apologized to the community for the way in which it was notified of the demolition: "It was not our intention to hurt the religious sentiments of anyone, we are only doing our duty. The order of the Supreme Court established February 28 as the deadline for demolition". (N.C.)

• India
• Mumbai
• religious
• freedom
• crosses
• demolition
• protest