News and Pics from Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai (SP)

Mumbai, Aug 30: More than 200 Catholic institions in Mumbai remained closed on Friday August 29, as a mark of solidarity and support for the suffering people of Orissa and condemning the communal violence unleashed by alleged VHP goons on the innocent people.  The institutions said, they are pained at the inaction of both the governments at the Centre and the state to intervene and stop these senseless atrocities and stop the killings of innocents and the burning of homes and religious places of worship. How many deaths need to occur before the governments wake up from their slumber, they questioned.

Some  schools had their local campaign marches. St John Bosco School at Borivali in the city  took out a march of around 750 students from the secondary section, pledging solidarity for the victims of Orissa, and prayed for communal harmony and peace in that state. Although the  school was approached by the local police station with a request not to organize the march, the School authorirties  explained why this needs to be done without fear.

However the local  police acted in a high handed manner, in not allowing the St Francis D'Assisi school to take out the march, even though the police were informed well in advance about this campaign. They cited the chances of law and order situation going out of control and the threats posed by Bajrang Dal to disrupt the march, as reasons for denying permission. The school management has condemned this approach by the local police station. Normally,  pressure  is always put on groups that are peaceful and abides by law while giving a free hand sometimes to those who are peace breakers.