Solidarity Dharna sends a message that Enough is Enough.

RE: Solidarity Dharna organised by The Bombay Catholic Sabha see a large turn out of over 1500 citizens, parents, ex-students at 9.00 a.m.on June 24 in support of Mary Immaculate Girl's High School, Borivali against the intimadatory tactics of the MNS activists.

It was heartening to observe that over 1500 citizens gathered in solidarity in support of Mary Immaculate Girl's High School, Borivali at 9.00 a.m. today [June 24] against the intimidation by the MNS activists who had threatened to come back to school on June 24 at 10.00 a.m.. This was after the MNS had created a ruckus outside the school on June 19 demanding out of turn admissions and making various false accusations against the School Management. This incident has traumatized the Sisters, Staff, Children and the Parents.

A delegation led by Dolphy D'souza, President of The Bombay Catholic Sabha presented a memorandum to the Deputy Commisioner of Police Mr. Makarand Ranade and the key demands were as follows:

1. All schools under his jurisdiction must be provided with police protection.

2. Restraining order on such elements.

3. Our constitutional rights as a Minority Institution should be protected at all times.

4. Apprehend the culprits and prosecute them accordingly.

In addition we demanded that an FIR be lodged against those responsible for such an approach and behaviour by the MNS activists on June 19. This is terrorising innocent children by their unruly behaviour. Although it is the duty of the police personnel to book the offenders under the appropriate provisions of law, the police personnel for reasons best known to them instead sought from us under which provision of law the offenders could be booked. It is rather strange that instead of performing their duties and apprehending the culprits the police personnel were rather trying to shift the onus on the law abiding citizens to apprise them of the appropriate sections for lodging an FIR against the trouble makers.

We have consulted our legal counsel, Adv. Godfrey Pimenta and the following sections can be applied for filing an FIR namely, Sec 441, criminal trespass, Sec 503, criminal intimidation, Sec 499, Defamation as their letter accused the Sisters and the Management of taking donations for admissions and conversions. We demand that an FIR be lodged against the trouble makers under these sections.

The representatives from MNS met with the School Management and the Management refuted the various allegations made by them like donations, conversions which were false and untrue. In matters of admission procedures they were directed to contact the Archdiocesan Board of Education. After hearing the explanations the representatives left the premises.

It is a matter of concern that such incidents which are of a grave nature keep on happening on Christian Minority run institutions. This practice needs to be curbed by taking strong preventive measures in time by the Government and Law Enforcement Agencies.

Our gathering of Solidarity was a message to the Police and the Government that such type of incidents should not happen in the future. In addition we demand that there should not be undue interference in the management of Institutions run by the Minorities which are protected under the Constitution as Minorities Institutions.

We are indeed grateful and our thanks to the following:

-Rev. Fr Franklyn Mathias Parish Priest of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church and his clergy team, Fr.Suren Abreu, Fr.Benhur Rodrigues and Fr.Nelson Saldanha who motivated their parishioners and were present for the Dharna.

- Parishioners of I.C. Church for their large turnout

-Rev. Fr. Ronald Menezes, Parish Priest of St John Bosco and his clergy team, Fr. Bosco D'mello, Principal, and Fr Allwyn Misquitta for also encouraging their parishioners and being present in solidarity.

-Parishioners of St John Bosco Parish

-Rev. Fr. Austin Norris, Parish Priest of St Joseph, Goregaon East along with his Parishioners

-Rev. Sisters, Parents, PTA members, Ex-Students, Citizens from different parts of the city.

-Smt Odette Mendonca, Chairperson of the Sabha Unit of IC Church and her team

-Adv. Raphael D'souza, Chairperson of the Sabha Unit of St John Bosco and his team.

We also thank the police personnel for their bandobast. We understand that for the moment there is security provided for the institution.

PLEASE AWAIT OUR NEXT COURSE OF ACTION. MORE DETAILS ON OUR WEBSITE: www.bcsabha.org

Best Regards,
Dolphy D'souza
President
THE BOMBAY CATHOLIC SABHA
St Michael's Church,
Mahim, Mumbai 400 016.
Tel:24463853 / 9820226227
email: contact@bcsabha.org
www.bcsabha.org