Restrain Supporters, Catholic Forum Tells Shiv Sena Chief By SAR NEWS
MUMBAI, Maharashtra (SAR NEWS) -- Catholic Secular Forum (CSF), a rights group, has called on the Shiv Sena political party's executive president Uddhav Thackeray to restrain his supporters from adopting intimidatory tactics against the peace-loving Christian community. The CSF urged Thackeray and the Vikhroli Parksite police to take stringent action against Ramesh Korgaonkar, the local Shiv Sena corporator from Bhandup, who threatened Catholic priest, Father Francis Carvalho, principal of St. Xavier's School for refusing admission to two students recommended by him. In a memorandum to the state Home minister and Deputy Chief Minister, R.R. Patil, the CSF stated that such threats be taken seriously and sought police action against the accused. "Even more shocking is the Shiv Sena corporator threatened to frame the priest in a case of having relationship with woman, if he did not accede to his demands for admission. This showed the potential dangers priest-principals are exposed to, while rendering yeoman service," CSF general secretary Joseph Dias told SAR News, May 4. The CSF also appreciated the prompt intervention of the State Minorities Commission, after Father Carvalho contacted Dr. Abraham Mathai, the Commission vice-chairman, resulting in the police taking congnisance of the incident. However, as the police let of the corporator with just a warning, the Sena activists have were threatening to blacken the face of the principal. There are about 500 Catholic educational institutions in the Bombay Archdiocese alone, catering to about 5 lakh students, almost 80% of whom are non-Catholic. If no action is taken promptly, it will only embolden such elements to continue blackmailing principals, as there have been such stray incidents in the past, Dias said. Meanwhile, the Bombay Catholic Sabha (BCS) also condemned Corporator Kargaonkar tactics and urged the deputy chief minister to ensure adequate protection for both the school and the principal Father Carvalho.
