Mumbai: Christian community protests against notice on crosses

Watchdog Foundation along with some members of the Christian community on Friday protested outside the K/West (Andheri) ward office. The protest was held because notices were served on some crosses that are considered to be old and used for prayer services by the Christian community. 

"BMC since 2003 has been issuing notices on crosses before elections, and would also threaten to demolish them. As per SC directives, I have given them papers for these crosses but they seem to misplace it each time.These are all legal and Grade A crosses," said Nicholas Almeida. 

According to Almeida, "There are 13 Grade A crosses and four Grade B crosses in city. Grade A are the ones that are before 1962. They have served notices on some of them which were Grade A. We went to protest at the ward office and offer a cross of flowers to the tell the ward officer that they should not give notices."

He also added that the office had misplaced the documents again. "We are not against the development of the city but they should not hurt our sentiments. Since the ward officer was away on a fire call, we will meet him on Saturday asking him to not slap notice of demolitions," he said.`