Mumbai protest against edict to remove wayside crosses

Catholics in the western Indian city of Mumbai have protested against efforts by local authorities to remove or demolish wayside crosses, according to Ucanews.

 

The protest last week was in response to a notice issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation that seeks to remove or demolish all wayside crosses built in the past 50 years.

Christians say that half of the city's 100 wayside crosses were erected in the past five decades.

Godfrey Pimenta, from the Watchdog Foundation, said the government decision to remove the crosses from public spaces is "about harassing" the city's minority Christian community.

The Supreme Court had earlier divided the wayside crosses into three categories.

The court said that category A crosses, erected prior to 1964, cannot be moved; category B crosses, erected from 1964-2009, can be relocated; and category C crosses, erected after 2009, can be demolished.

City council officials say they do not have legal documents proving ages of the crosses and have issued demolition notices asking Catholics to show reason why the crosses cannot be demolished.