Spokesperson for the Bombay Archdiocese, Fr Nigel Barret, said, “We condemn the incident and we have written to the pub management regarding the incident and we demand that the licenses of the pub should be cancelled.”
The interiors of a pub in Goregaon East on Wednesday drew outrage from the Bombay Archdiocese which said that its decor was blasphemous, and led the police to book the “persons responsible” for hurting religious sentiments.
The press office of the Archdiocese of Bombay in a statement said, “It has been brought to our attention that the decor of the pub ‘Goregaon Social’ at Oberoi Mall, Goregaon (East), Mumbai, is blasphemous and hurts the religious sentiments of the Christian community. We strongly condemn what appears to be a deliberate attempt to insult the Christian community by lack of respect for our religious beliefs and the sacred objects that are used for Divine worship. We demand that the pub ‘Goregaon Social’ be closed with immediate effect, with cancellation of their Trade License, Liquor Permit, Health License, etc. till such time the decor is changed. We will petition the appropriate authorities to act, failing which we reserve the right to appropriate legal action.”
Spokesperson for the Bombay Archdiocese, Fr Nigel Barret, said, “We condemn the incident and we have written to the pub management regarding the incident and we demand that the licenses of the pub should be cancelled.”
The matter was reported to the police by NGO, Watchdog Foundation, who approached the Dindoshi police to complain against the pub Goregaon Social at Oberoi Mall in Goregaon East.
“The Tabernacle has been the backdrop of the bar while the seating arrangements are like Church pews which has been inscribed with the texts from the Holy bible,” said Nicholas Almeida from the Watchdog Foundation.
“We reported the incident to the police and filed a formal complaint as it hurts our religious sentiments,” Almeida added.
BJP MLA and President of Mumbai unit Ashish Shelar said he had taken up the issue with the Mumbai Police Commissioner and the Civic Chief to initiate action against the pub.
Goregaon Social later posted an apology on its Facebook Page stating, “We have been notified that the interiors have hurt the sentiments of a large number of our beloved patrons. We sincerely apologise.”
The post said that Goregaon Social’s design was meant as a satirical statement against the ever growing trend of overt consumerism and the culture of advertising.
“The pictures were removed from the pub in front of the police and they apologised”, said a Dindoshi police official.
The Dindoshi police booked ‘persons responsible’ under section 295 (A) (Hurting religious sentiments) of the Indian Penal Code.
“Some of the thing were certainly offensive. But if he has realised and removed offensive bit then we should leave it at that. Christian way (of life) is to forgive and forget.
“To err is human and to forgive is divine. That is what Jesus would do. Retribution should not be the motive in this case,” said Anil Joseph, a member of catholic community, who has raised prominent community issues in past.
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