Protest against Holy Cross demolitions

About 40 Roman Catholics gathered outside the Andheri west K ward office of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), in Mumbai on Friday to protest the civic body’s notice on demolishing nine holy crosses in the ward.

The BMC had issued a notice on November 15 stating that B category holy crosses — i.e crosses erected between 1964-2009 — in Juhu-Koliwada, Alfred Creado Road and Mukteshwar Road would be demolished after 10 days. According to Supreme Court guidelines, holy crosses under the B category can be relocated and shifted to other places.

It is as yet unclear if the BMC intends to relocate the nine B-category crosses in the area. This is why its notice prompted the community, led by the Watchdog Foundation, Save Our Land (SOUL) and Bombay East Indian Association, to take to the streets. The protesters responded to the civic body’s notice with a memorandum on the legal status of the crosses. They also presented a cross made of roses to civic officials.

“Our holy crosses have been here since ages and act as landmarks,” said Nicholas Almeida, trustee, Watchdog Foundation. “If our crosses are a hindrance to traffic or in the way of any other project, then the officials can sit across with us and decide where these should be shifted.”