Christian community held a day-long protest here in lucknow and other parts of the State against the recent vandalisation of St Mary’s church in Agra. It was for the first time that all the Christian Missionary schools of lucknow along with 10 other cities of the State remain closed in protest of the attack on St Mary’s Church. Some missionary hospitals also suspended their outdoor service to join the protest.
Several Christians and Muslim leaders joined the dharna at Gandhi pratima here in the state capital on Thursday morning and later they marched to Cathedral church at Hazratganj to hand over a memorandum to the Chief Minister. The protestors, mostly in white and black attire at the GPO held plank card written ‘ Stop atrocities against Christians’ and banners saying ‘ We have a right to worship and practice our faith’.
Muslim cleric Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangimahali and Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad too joined the dharna for a brief period. Sikh religious leader Gyaniji was also present in the demonstration. Talking to reporters, the Christian and the Muslim religious leaders expressed their anguish over the attack on the minority religious places and demanded that the Centre as well as the state government should provide security to these places besides take serious action on the culprits involved in such crimes. Uttar Pradesh Masihi Association general secretary R K Chattree said the protest was held against the consistent and selective attacks on the churches, schools, institutions, religious leaders and ordinary christians in the country. Prominent christians who participated in the day’s dharna include Bishop Phillip Masih, Gerald John Mathais and Bishop Augustus Anthony.
Earlier, the meeting of the christian community resolved that while attacks on Churches was a serious matter that could not be ignored, it felt the need for Christians to take care of their properties. Meanwhile, Taj city Agra police have arrested three youths in connection with the vandalisation of the St Mary’s church on April 16 last. However, the arrest has sparked tension after Peace Party and people from a particular community held a protest at the collectorate over the arrest on Wednesday.
They alleged that innocent youths have been arrested by the police while the police claimed that the youths who were employees of a catering group were at the incident spot when it happened. Miscreants had vandalised four statues of Mother Mary at St Mary’s Church compound in Agra besides breaking windowpanes of the car parked in the church courtyard on April 16 last. The community people are holding peace prayers at the church and taking out candle march every day. On the other hand, the special prayer at the St Mary’s church continued with hundreds of people attending it daily.