SOLIDARITY MARCH ON SATURDAY, JUNE 14 AT 5.00 P.M FROM ST THERESA'S CHURCH,BANDRA

Dear Sabhaites and Friends,

Pereira Wadi demolitions is a human rights violations. Shame that in a democracy there is jungle raj.

We want the homes to be restored by June 13.

A massive Solidarity March organized on Saturday, June 14 at 5.00 p.m.

We all meet in the Hall of St Theresa's, Bandra .

We want you to mobilize thousands for this event.

Please request your Parish Priest to make the announcements.

Best Regards,
Dolphy D'souza
President
THE BOMBAY CATHOLIC SABHA
9820226227 / 24463853


ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. PEREIRA WADI DEMOLITION A SHAME.

WE WANT JUSTICE. RESTORE THE DEMOLISHED HOMES.

Sunday, 8th June, 2008, turned out to be one more landmark day in the Sabha's movement against social injustices and proclamation of people's power. The ruthless and inhuman demolition of houses in Pereirawadi, Bandra, roused people from their slumber and a huge gathering of citizens both local and from outside Bandra, assembled at Pereirawadi at 5.30 p.m. on Sunday evening. The heavy downpower did not deter the protestors but rather egged them on to march ahead demanding justice.

The 'Candle in the Wind' march initiated by the Bombay Catholic Sabha and supported by St. John Baptist Church Save Committee,[ Nicholas Almeida], Sahar Citizens' Forum[ Adv. Godfrey Pimenta], Bombay East Indian Association, H West Citizens' Forum [Shyama Kulkarni] and other NGOs started from the demolition site. After the opening remarks by Mr. Dolphy D'Souza, President BCS, exhorting the people to carry on the fight till justice is meted out and the houses of the homeless are restored, a meaningful prayer service followed with a Bhajan in Gujarati and prayers by Sr. Dabi (Gujarati) and Fr. Roque (Hindi). What initially appeared like a couple of hundreds of protestors soon turned out to be over 1000 with people joining in all along the route. Many along the way were wondering why the crowd was marching along in the rain, but the pamphlet briefly stating the facts helped them join in the cause.

The winding chain made its way through the various roads of Bandra, sometimes wading through the flooded roads, right from the BMC Office to the Police Station, making sure it went past the offices/residences of the local Corporator, the MLA and the MP.

The message to the authorities and powers that be was clear do not mess with ordinary citizens and try to enforce jungle raj. We will not allow any undemocratic behaviour be it on the part of the elected representatives, powerful builders, ministers or others. It is well said that people's power is the strongest the world over, and Sunday’s incident powerfully reinforced this belief with the message cutting across clearly through rank and file. Yes, the time has come when we shall not allow unscrupulous builders to demolish homes under the garb of SRA. Pereirawadi is more than a century old and does not come under the SRA has the homes, though small, have all the modern amenities. And could there be a more inhuman act than dehousing 24 families on to the roads, with the onset of the heavy monsoons? Only monsters could behave in this fashion.

Well friends, the fight has just begun. Today it's Pereirawadi, tomorrow it could be your wadi, someone's chawl, anybody's home or even my residence. Are we going to sit back and wait till this happens or are we going to plunge head on into the fight. As long as our brothers and sisters do not get their homes back, we shall not sleep peacefully in our homes, but will join them in the fight for justice.

A ray of hope in the horizon is the warm hearted assurance from the local M.P. to ensure that justice is delivered, homes will be restored and there will be no redevelopment without the total consent of the concerned tenants.

Rita D'Sa, Vice President, BCS
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