Subject: URGENT PRESS STATEMENT AND INVITE
The Editor
Dear Madam / Sir,
RE; The Bombay Catholic Sabha has organised an interactive public meeting with the Maulana Azad Minorities Financial Development Corporation on May 07 at
7.00 p.m. at Salvation Hall, Dadar.
The Bombay Catholic Sabha has organised an interactive meeting with the Board Members of the Maulana Azad Minorities Financial Development Corporation who will be briefing us about the various schemes and facilities available for the Minorities and the norms for availing of the same.
Details are as follows:
Date: May 07, 2008 Time: 7.00 p.m.
Venue: Salvation Kendra Hall, Our Lady of Salvation Church [Portuguese Church], Dadar West.
We also heartily congratulate Ms Janet D'souza on her appointment as a Director of the Maulana Azad Minorities Financial Development Corporation
All members of minorities are invited to attend.
Also we would request you to depute your "Reporter" to cover this event.
Thank you for your support,
Best Regards,
Dolphy D'souza
President
THE BOMBAY CATHOLIC SABHA
St Michael's Annexe,
Mahim,
Mumbai 400 016.
Tel: 98202262287
Email: contact@bcsabha.org
www.bcsabha.org
Subject: URGENT AND IMMEDIATE PRESS STATEMENT
URGENT PRESS STATEMENT
THE BOMBAY CATHOLIC SABHA [BCS]CONDEMNS THE INTIMIDATORY TACTICS BY THE LOCAL SHIV SENA CORPORATOR DEMANDING ADMISSIONS FROM ST XAVIERS SCHOOL,BHANDUP AND THREATENING THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL WITH DIRE CONSEQUENCES IF HIS REQUEST HIS NOT MET. BCS SEEKS THE INTERVENTION OF Hon"ble DCM AND HOME MINISTER Shri R.R.PATIL AND DEMANDS PROTECTION FOR THE SCHOOL AND THE PRINCIPAL.
THE EDITOR
Dear Madam / Sir,
The Bombay Catholic Sabha [BCS], condemns the intimidatory tactics by the local Shiv Sena Corporator Mr. Ramesh Kargaonkar from Tembli Pada demanding admissions and threatening the School Principal Fr. Francis Carvalho with dire consequences if his requests are not met.
Since the last several days the said Corporator has been putting pressure on the School Principal to accede to his requests. Since there is a clear laid down policy by the Archdiocesan Board of Education, the Principal has explained to the Corporator that he will have to go by the rules.
On April 30, things became a bit worse when the Corporator threatened that he would push the women in his office if his demands were not met.
An FIR has been lodged by the School Principal with the Parksite Police Station.
We have requested the Deputy Chief Minister to ensure that adequate protection is provided for both the School and the School Principal Rev.Fr. Francis Carvalho.
You are kindly requested to cover this press note in your esteemed newspaper.
Best Regards,
Dolphy D'souza
President
THE BOMBAY CATHOLIC SABHA
St Michael's Annexe,
Mahim,
Mumbai 400 016.
Tel: 98202262287
Email: contact@bcsabha.org
www.bcsabha.org
Subject: URGENT AND IMMEDIATE PRESS STATEMENT
URGENT PRESS STATEMENT
RE; THE BOMBAY CATHOLIC SABHA [BCS ] CONDEMNS THE POLICE AUTHORITIES ON SLAPPING FALSE CHARGES AGAINST MS VAISHALI PATIL, THE
PRESIDENT OF THE ADIVASI HAKKA SANGHARSHA SAMITI UNDER THE ATROCITIES ACT. WE DEMAND THAT THE GOODAS WHO ATTACKED THE
SISTERS AND THE ADIVASIS MUST BE CHARGED UNDER THE ATROCITIES ACT AND FOR OUTRAGING THE MODESTY OF THE TRIBAL
WOMEN. DHARNA BY SEVERAL GROUPS AT AZAD MAIDAN ON MARCH 25 BETWEEN 1.00 P.M. AND 4.00 P.M TO PROTEST/ DEMAND JUSTICE.
BCS SEEKS THE INTERVENTION OF MR. A. R. ANTULAY, THE MINISTER FOR MINORITIES.
BCS HAS ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE NATIONAL MINORITIES COMMISSION TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION
THE EDITOR
Dear Madam/ Sir ,
At least four tribal women with Sr Mercy, ccr and Sr Philomena, ccr, Sisters of the Congregation of Carmelite Religious (CCR), were badly beaten by a mob of 50-60 men and women who attacked the Jeevan Jyoti Kendra, at Sahangoti Village, Alibag, Raigad District on Saturday, March 15th, 2008.
The Women’s Day Celebration with over 100 tribals from neigbouring villages was part of a programme conducted at the request and with permission of the local Collector. The programme included the inauguration of a Herbal Medicine Machine Unit donated by the Rotary Club and an AIDS awareness Talk
The attack on tribals and two Sisters working with them draws attention to the following Human Rights issues:
a) Atrocities on tribals
b) Atrocities on women
c) Atrocities on minorities.
The work done with the tribals is primarily non-formal education. Disrupting their programmes, a group of 50-60 men and women beat up the tribals and the sisters working for them. The police initially refused to acknowledge or file a case against the attackers of the tribal women.
The women were beaten by a violent group of men and women. They were slapped and kicked in the abdomen and groin. The women tried to disrobe them. The sisters were threatened to be paraded naked on the streets.
The attack by militant followers of a fundamentalist leader was very well planned and executed. Attackers were from neighbouring villages. Sisters were falsely accused of and beaten for alleged conversions. The police remained indifferent and passive.
Ms Vaishali Patil was one of the first ones to intervene after the issue was taken up with DIG Mr Subhash Awate.
Only 13 out of the alleged over 50 assailants including men and women participated in this bashing up of the tribal women and sisters were arrested.
The charges levied by the Police on the attackers which actually numbered over 50 men and women [ but only 13 arrrested ]were so mild that they were let off on bail immediately.
On the other hand, Ms Vaishali Patil, a Tribal Activist , a State Government awardee for her work among tribal women was charged under the Atrocities Act .
Ms Vaishali Patil is the President of Adivasi Hakka Sangharsha Samiti which is fighting for the rights of the Tribals and the Adivasis.Ms Vaishali Patil was one of the first ones to intervene with the Police after the mob had attacked the Sisters and the Tribal Women who were attending the annual Mahila Diwas programme at Alibaug. Ms Vaishali Patil had insisted with the Police that the Assailants should be charged under the Atrocities Act and for outraging the tribal women's modesty and physically attacking not only the Sisters but also the tribal women.
Strange but true, instead of filing charges against the Goondas under the Atrocities Act, the police thought it fit to charge Ms Vaishali Patil under the said Atrocities Act.
We condemn this attempt to brow beat an activist who is fighting a just cause.
On our part, we cannot keep quiet on an episode which wreaks of state vengenance perpetuated by the Police Authorities on Ms Patil, just because she was fighting for the rights of the Tribals and the Sisters who were attacked for reaching out to the tribal women.
Our demands are as follows:
1. Withdraw the false charges under the Atrocities Act on Ms Vaishali Patil
2. Arrest all the persons, men and women [ over 50 in number] who attacked the Sisters and the Tribal women who were attending the Mahila Diwas camp on March 15.
3. Apply the Atrocities Act on the Goondas responsible for these attacks.
4. Provide adequate protection to the Sisters and the Tribal women in the areas who are living in fear because of this intimidation.
Hence on Tuesday, March 25 we will sit in a Dharna along with several other Groups and Activists at Azad Maidan, V.T. between 1.00 p.m. and 4.00 p.m. We urge every single citizen who is angry to join in during this period.
Best Regards,
Dolphy D'souza
President
THE BOMBAY CATHOLIC SABHA
St Michael's Church, Mahim.
9820226227
email: contact@bcsabha.org
www.bcsabha.org
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere". Martin Luther King Jr.
PRESS STATEMENT
CHIEF GUEST: HIS EXCELLENCY HON'BLE MOHAMMED RAHMA MD.M.AL-MAZROEY- VICE CONSUL, CONSULATE GENERAL OF UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
BCS FOOTCOM 2008 FINALS ON MARCH 09 AT 3.30 P.M. AT St Xaviers Grounds, Parel.
THE EDITOR
The BCS FOOTCOM 2008 finals will be held on March 09 at St Xaviers Grounds, Parel.
This is the third year of the football tournament being conducted by the BCS with over 24 teams participating.
We have seen some scintillating football during this tournament.
The finals will be between:
Finals: St. Anthony Malvani V/s Immaculate Conception. Borivili. ---- 3.30 pm.
PLEASE DEPUTE YOUR REPORTER TO COVER THIS EVENT
Best Regards,
Dolphy D'souza
President
THE BOMBAY CATHOLIC SABHA
St Michael's Annexe,
L.J. Road, Mahim,
Mumbai 400 016.
9820226227
URGENT PRESS RELEASE
Responses to this CampaignRE; PROTEST! PROTEST ! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH THE BOMBAY CATHOLIC SABHA [BCS ] HAS ORGANISED THE CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL PROTEST IN THE PARISHES IN MUMBAI ON SATURDY, FEBRUARY 23 BETWEEN 7.00 P.M. AND 8.00 P.M. WE DEMAND: SCRAP SEZ IN GORAI UTTAN: NO LAND ACQUISITION IN SAHAR: STOP ATTACKS ON MINORITIES.
The BCS has organised the candle light vigil in the different parishes in Mumbai between 7.00 p.m. and 8.00 p.m. on Saturday, February 23, 2008 .
Our demands are:
---SCRAP SEZ IN GORAI UTTAN
---NO LAND ACQUISITION IN SAHAR
---STOP ATTACKS ON MINORITIES
Stop all atrocities against Christians/ Minorities in different parts of the country. In Orissa the community is still terrorised. We demand the Central and State Governments not to abdicate their constitutional duty to protect minorities and under- privileged. We urge the Governments both at the Centre and the State to reign in the communalists and fascists who are having a field day in continuing to commit crimes against the Minorities
We also demand that the Government stop the the forcible acquisition of land/eviction of original residents of Uttan-Gorai-Manori and Sahar etc in the garb of development.
The Christians have been taken for granted by the powers that be for too long. Patience has its limits. And silence is cowardice.
A peace loving community has no choice but to come out on the streets of Mumbai to demand the protection of its just and legitimate rights.
As a culmination in our continued struggle for justice there will be a MASS PROTEST RALLY on SATURDAY, 15TH MARCH 2008 at AZAD MAIDAN AT 3.00 P.M.
You are kindly requested to depute your Reporter to cover the Candle Light Vigil Protest in the Parishes on Feb 23.
Contact us for more details.
Best Regards,
Dolphy D'souza, President, Bombay Catholic Sabha
9820226227
The following messages are coming-in in response to our campaign :
Godbless you and your work to conscientize the people for action
-----Fr. Joe Fernandes, msfs Uchgaon-Belgaum.
DEAR DOLPHY, -----CM PAUL
MY PRAYERFUL WISHES FOR THE SUCCESS OF YOUR MEANINGFUL "LENTEN CAMPAIGN"...
YES, THIS IS THE MEANING OF METANOIA (CONVERSION), GIVE JUSTICE TO THE VICTIMIZED...
AS PROPHET AMOS SAYS, THERE IS NO BETTER WAY TO PRACTICE RELIGION,
OTHER THAN SUPPORTING THE POOR, THE WEAK, THE WIDOW AND THE ORPHAN...
WONDERFUL... KEEP IT UP...
CATHOLIC SABHA'S THEOLOGY IS CENT PERCENT ACCURATE.
