PANAJI
A temporary prayer centre stands where Delhi’s Little Flower Church once stood. The minority community, which was shocked at the demolition of the church on July 12, are now gearing to celebrate Christmas in this temporary camp-like structure set up by the Aam Aadmi Party.
The church, managed by the Syro-Malabar Church in Lado Sarai, was pulled down during a demolition drive in Chattarpur, following an order from the Delhi Development Authority under the ambit of the Central government.
After the incident, Archbishop Kuriakose Bhalangikuran met Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and discussed the matter. Kejriwal promised every sort of help for facilitating the rebuilding of this church and also for providing an atmosphere for the faithful.
The Archbishop said, “The demolition of the church was a great loss to the whole community. For several years, some 1,500 faithful from around 450 families used the church for prayers.”
He thanked Kejriwal for his timely intervention and setting up a temporary place of worship.
In the aftermath of the demolition, there were attempts to politicize and communalize the issue. “We sought peaceful means to solve the issue by reaching out to the local authorities. Kejriwal government helped us to put up the temporary structure. Now, we are working on a long-term solution through the legal process,” the Archbishop said.
Father Jose Kannukujhi, Parish Priest of the church said, “In the past few months, we have received a lot of support from different quarters, especially from the AAP. They stood by us during hard times.”
Abrahim Reebachan, trustee of the church said, “Several political parties offered assistance at the time of demolition. After one month, everyone had gone missing. Only AAP is helping us.”
The AAP said the Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao, who visited Delhi, tried to politicise the issue. When told about Kejriwal’s statement in Goa that the demolition was carried out by the Delhi Development Authority, which is under the control of the Centre, Churchill said the Delhi CM should either have control over his administration or quit the office, the party said.
The AAP said with impending elections in Goa and the party making significant strides in trying to establish and enhance its voter base in Goa, the opposition is raking up the case once again to give a communal twist to a matter over which the AAP government in Delhi does not have much control over.
The party said the Delhi government, chosen by the people, has jurisdiction over all the departments except land, police and services, which come directly under the Centre.
The AAP said the demolition and the involvement of its government were misleading as it is clear that this matter started long before the party came to power. The demolition was ordered by BJP controlled DDA, it stated.
“Pointing fingers and blaming over a case which has been going on for over a decade and culminating in an event of demolishing of a religious structure on encroached land, clearly points to opportunistic propaganda to spruce up communal sentiments,” the AAP charged.
