Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Mar 10: Bengaluru Archbishop Peter Machado has described the removal of statue of Jesus Christ from a hill in Devanahalli taluk as ‘desecration’. Saying the act has immensely hurt the Christian community, Machado demanded the statue be returned to the place, from where it was uprooted.

On March 2, civic authorities of Devanahalli near Bengaluru removed a statue of Jesus Christ and the Stations of the Cross, following allegations of illegal encroachment and religious conversion from Hindu residents of the village.

Archbishop Peter Machado

S Ajith Kumar, the tahsildhar who supervised the operation maintains that the land was allotted as burial ground but not for Christians or any particular community. He said that statements which claim that the land was allotted to become a Christian graveyard are false.

When questioned by a media channel on hurting the sentiments of the community, Rai said that he was only following guidelines. “People from other communities had raised an issue. It’s not just Christian statue, we have removed temples also when rules were flouted,” he said.

While the tahsildhar denies discrimination against any community, statements by Hindu Jagaran Vedike state secretary Keshavmurthy are triggering a controversy.

"We welcome the stopping of Christian missionary activities and the removal of Jesus Christ statues by the district officials with the help of the police,” he said.

The Vedike had warned protests if the statue was not removed by Ugadi. It had also filed a Public Interest Litigation demanding the removal of the statue.

Meanwhile, the Church authorities said they will initiate legal action. Maintaining that the land was allotted for a Christian graveyard, the authorities claim they have documents to prove the same.

The archbishop expressed grief that the statue was uprooted like a piece of cement and questioned if government has reduced to a level, where it acts on an outcry of a mob.

The archbishop asked government to intervene and control fringe groups. He said that memories are still afresh when churches were attacked in 2008.

While Congress MLA N A Haris demanded an answer from the government on why the statue was removed, BJP MLA Kumar Bangarappa said that be it any religion, law stands about everything.

Citing Ram Mandir issue as an example, Bangarappa said that the issue went on for centuries. Ultimately, justice prevailed and Muslims accepted the Supreme Court judgment.

“We are not against anybody. It is against the law. The state government has given Rs 200 crore for the same Christian community,” he asserted.